All

Life... in need, helping, tears, awards, sadness, reach out

I sit here in my quaint, disorganized office pausing before the day begins. The hallways are silent, empty and in waiting for the others to bring them alive. The heater hums to life, begging for acknowledgement of the fine job he does. The printer light occasionally softens and brightens; letting me know it is still in sleep mode. The ivy in my window dances gently as the heater caresses it with warmth.

 The south wall filled with photographs of all, keep their focus on me.The ones who love me now, who loved me before and now have a distaste for what I represent and yet they remain on my wall in hopes... hopes that they will join and understand life outside of drugs. Some are related and are the brightness in the shadows of my life. Others like me.. want to trust me and yet never cross the threshold, but I'll wait, help, hope and pray. There are even a few who hate me.. but they might not always.

The Ivy crawls up the wall in between all of those photographs, blends them as a whole, offering something for them to hang onto. Multicolored post it notes reminds me of that, which they need. Mandy needs a dentist, no insurance. Below it, Dr. Bleags will see her on any Thursday afternoon and allow no payment to pull the angry wisdom tooth. Jermey arrested Monday; drug related. Tasha looking for a job; has a felony. Davis found a job; needs jeans. Shyann under 16 years, pregnant; Wic appointment on Tuesday, needs a ride.

Boring meeting on Monday at 3:00 with people who show society they care, but they don't offer rides to Doctor appointments or provide jeans for Davis. They care long enough to get write ups in the paper and win a humanity award. I could not go. I could go with my post it notes and photographs, but I won't.

I don't want Davis to get a pair jeans for the sole purpose of someone winning a humanity award. I want him to get them because someone believes in him. I don't want Shyann to be given taxi money just so a snotty society woman can brag at her next luncheon that she helped. I grab my post it notes..pour another cup of coffee and start calling those who I know I can depend on; because they just simply care like I do.

 I will lose many more than I will ever save but, I will have loved and cared for them ALL.

Reviews

[Steph]

This is such a vivid and wonderful poem. It's quite a long poem but you have used such effective imagery that I didn't get bored.
My favourite line is:
Boring meeting on Monday at 3:00 with people who show society they care, but they don't offer rides to Doctor appointments or provide jeans for Davis. They care long enough to get write ups in the paper and win a humanity award. I could not go. I could go with my post it notes and photographs, but I won't.
You are super talented!

ah... than you kindly... emotions and life on paper...

[Wandervogel]

simply loved it......thanks for sharing....

thank you kindly

[Tate Morgan]

People come and go through our lives genuine love stays for a lifetime

Thank you kindly Tate... I love my job and at times, it makes me cry...

[Nirmala]

I so enjoyed this one, especially as some of my work is linked to this. A great write. I particularly like the lines
Mandy needs a dentist, no insurance. Below it, Dr. Bleags will see her on any Thursday afternoon and allow no payment to pull the angry wisdom tooth.

Boring meeting on Monday at 3:00 with people who show society they care, but they don't offer rides to Doctor appointments or provide jeans for Davis. They care long enough to get write ups in the paper and win a humanity award. I could not go. I could go with my post it notes and photographs, but I won't.

I don't want Davis to get a pair jeans for the sole purpose of someone winning a humanity award. I want him to get them because someone believes in him. I don't want Shyann to be given taxi money just so a snotty society woman can brag at her next luncheon that she helped.
I think you have voiced many an unspoken sentiment of those deeply involved in justice issues...

Thank you kindly Nirmala... Yes it is my work each and every day and I can't think of a different place I would rather be...but at times... it breaks my heart.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A detailed and explosive piece that relates well, good read, well done.

Thank you Thomas... very much for your comments and your time. Hope you will visit again.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Your welcome.

[David Moreland]

Wonderful prose! A heartfelt revelation from someone who, I would imagine, went through it. There is an apprehensive feel to this piece, exemplified by the line " Others like me...want to trust me and yet never cross the threshold." And of course, the imagery: "The south wall filled with photographs of all, keep their focus on me /" The piece opens with a location, a "quaint, disorganized office." I hope I am not viewing this incorrectly, but much of it is about location, isn't it? In life, in society, in expectation...in wanting "them" to care as you do, selflessly; not to fuel their own pomp and pride "winning a humanity award" or "so a snotty society woman can brag at her next luncheon that she helped." What is it about the location you took the time to eloquently describe with Post It notes, and a humming heater that illuminates this piece, I can't yet put my finger on. But I will. It works.

Thank you so kindly... for reading and feeling this piece. in answer to your question: " What is it about the location you took the time to eloquently describe with Post It notes, and a humming heater that illuminates this piece? This is my quaint little office and it is overflowing with photos, plants and the never ending post it notes... this is my job and yet it is so very much more that most others simply do not understand or want to. Thank you again for taking the time to visit me in my little world.

[David Moreland]

It got through. I was there, for a moment, and I met you there; because, in your writing, you invited me. Thank you. Well done.

yes.. you seen through and felt that which sometimes consumes me.

[Armana D'Uscaret]

"The ones who love me now, who loved me before and now have a distaste for what I represent and yet they remain on my wall in hopes... hopes that they will join and understand life outside of drugs. Some are related and are the brightness in the shadows of my life. Others like me.. want to trust me and yet never cross the threshold, but I'll wait, help, hope and pray"

"Mandy needs a dentist, no insurance. Below it, Dr. Bleags will see her on any Thursday afternoon and allow no payment to pull the angry wisdom tooth. Jermey arrested Monday; drug related. Tasha looking for a job; has a felony. Davis found a job; needs jeans. Shyann under 16 years, pregnant; Wic appointment on Tuesday, needs a ride."

"They care long enough to get write ups in the paper and win a humanity award. I could not go."

In these words as well as many others within this work, you reveal a world that has been wrapped up in the intricacies of everyday life and everyday objects. The world sneaks up on you, the reader, slowly finding its way under your skin until you become aware of it, of the fact that is now part of your own being.

Thanks for writing and sharing this. Thank you also for taking the time to read and comment upon my own work.

Best,
A

thank you kindly for taking the time to enter my world...

[A. Amos]

I love poems that make me feel something, and this did. Love your style of writing purely amazing work and such an honest message you shared and thank you for spreading awareness of being kind...

Thank you kindly...Amos it is always wonderful hearing from you and your encouragement.

[A. Amos]

You're most welcome my friend and pleasure is all mine