Safety

I started this poem in a workshop, the prompt was "safety"

Intake procedures,
charts of signs and symbols,
diagrams and timetables,

machines beep under 

hushed voices, naked glances,
meaningless communication
about the dead, and the dying.
Under the glare of lights and eyes,
she made her initiation protest,
the silence of clenched teeth
stirring underneath the wrecked
sound of her breathing,
crooked inseams, badly hemmed,

tattered bits of thread
between her fingertips.

Hallway of hollow footsteps,
walking backward to that spot,
where in turned out
where no became yes
emotion was the reason
time stopped. Morning meeting,
circle of chairs, silent stares,

arms straight down her sides,

hands hidden between 

rough wooden seat  

and naked skinny thighs,

lowered head, dark eyes, lost 

under disarray of choppy bangs, 

peering into her deep well of sadness,

hoarse whisper, barely there

“I believe in the Devil,” she said,
“I know he’s coming for me.”

Common room, sorted sounds,

tapping fingers on glass,
rain-streaked, blurring vision,
outside four yellow walls,
the vastness can swallow you up.
Behind locked doors, 

feet planted on tile floor,
cheek against cool windowpane
you won’t get lost, 

you won’t disappear.
“Come here, girl,” 

hand beckons to next seat,
“sit down,” says hand, 

soft words, kind face,
but the meaning is clear,
“Come away from there,
the light and the life outside,
come away from the
enchantment of storm clouds
and the hope of blue skies.
Ain't no use in trying
you are not strong enough,
Ain't no use in crying out
the ears don’t hear here,
Don’t fight it, girl."

Outside you can breath.

Inside these rooms,

built on thrown-out 

used-up body parts, 

the mouths are sown up
the walls have ears
the mirrors have eyes
the hearts are cold stones
in cold breasts, so
“Take your meds, girl.”
No use in fighting it.

You're leaving the light,

this is where the devil lives, girl.

Don't you know
this is the end of the line, girl?

Author's Note

Please do review this poem, I think it is almost finished and I've done a lot of work on it, I would love some helpful feedback.

Can you SEE it? What do you see? hear? smell? feel?

Reviews

[KarolinneFaith]

Its just enchanting! I love it. Your descriptions are perfect. Detailed but not too much so it leaves room for my own imagination.

I see a beautiful girl with a beautiful mind. Its enjoyable that she's describing her surroundings.

I also love how you explain how she feels by describing what's happening and her posture, her hairstyle. Its like many pictures all at once that one can relate to in a way.

I think your message might be that we all have the ability to find our own peace and general situations aren't always the answer.