MY LAST BASTION

the tower i climb each day

 MY LAST BASTION

threads of liquid amber
shatter through the crystals
in my window to dance upon my eyelids

pt poteet, my fox terrier companion,
touches my cheek with is cold wet nose
get up!!!get up you lazy human

the morning sun is dancing in the yard
playing music in goldenaqua threads
through cedar and redwood boughs
and
(P.S.  me and belladonna and steve need ta pee
and check out the midnight paper
feral critters left in our yard)

slowly flowing from purplesmooth pj dreams
i drift into my sunbloomed kitchen
to create my amaretto laced rich dark chocolate
in my hand built stoneware mug
then
put the blue berry scones in the oven
such a peaceful amberrainbowed morning
until i hear the rivale bugling in my brain

the soldiers are lined up multicolored
at attention on the table in the breakfast nook
in uniform and high and tight
spit polished to perfection
18 pills locked and loaded, battle lines drawn
my final AIDS cocktail
the last ancient stone bastion
my retreat to the keep
to escape my final ballet with death
the shrapnel of dark disease screamslashing perfect appricotpeachy peace of our world...

Reviews

[dan]

jeannemarie, Your unique brand of storytelling washed me away and placed me in the moment; feral cats tearing up morning paper, coffee and scones, then...What? Soldiers? It becomes obvious that it is your AIDS meds spelled out in an apropos metaphor. Anyone here on WC who knows your backstory are jolted back to reality, to a writing friend battling fiercely to maintain her tenuous grip on her mortality. My thoughts and prayers are always with you, my wishes that your continue to win the day. take care...dan

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you, dan, each morning is a victory for myself and my family...

[mattavelli]

Great wording, Jeannemarie, it flows beautifully.

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you kind friend

[Gee]

What a smack in the teeth the final half dozen lines.By far one of the better poems I have read on this site

[jeannemarie coulter]

thank you for the kind words

[Emily]

This is one of my favorites of yours!
Keep on writing!!

[jeannemarie coulter]

THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, EM

[Perkele.7885]

You and me, jeannemarie....the apothecary king and queen of the writer's cafe!

[....................]

the way you approach this battle - with such an uncanny joy of life - is inspiring, as is the way you describe it here... the opening lines are simply breathtaking stitches of word tapestry and lines that follow tell us so very, very much about the kind of human being you are...excellent work, Jeannemarie; I am thankful for your gift of words...