Who thinks of the final approach
to the last minute
when you're right
that moment still taking
your sixty breaths
in a whole second
uninterrupted
by the invisible work
of lungs and heart
and brain keeping
score? What more could you
want to see
that your eyes
haven't already
recorded in color,
your iris contracting
and dilating,
both letting in
and keeping out
the light?
How much better
might bread taste
in your mouth
once the salt
of so many tears
has crusted, forming
a mountain you're climbing
to heal?
Where would you choose
to feel the heat
most, love into tenderness
the rough patch
and scar lines no longer
red in anger?
When would you hear
the coda? Tell me soon
enough I can know
you can hold out
your hand
and let go.
© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
_________________________
In a first for me, I've decided to take up the #Trust30 challenge, an online writing initiative that promises 30 inspirational prompts that encourage participants to "look within" and "reflect on your now". A compilation of the prompts is here. Pledging is ongoing.
The prompt for this poem is from Gwen Bell:
15 Minutes to Live
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
You have just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a time for fifteen minutes.
2. Write a story that has to be written.
Posts
3 comments:
Isn't this an interesting challenge!
I am intrigued by the mountain formed of the crusted salt of tears "you're climbing to heal" and all the 'lasts' presented to us. I come away from the reading with a desire to be kinder to myself. Lovely read!
what a challenge ...
I like "you can hold out your hand and let go" ...
I really like the style of the poem, well done and played with pictures! :)
interesting idea of the challenge actually.
Post a Comment