Hello Grace
someone says
I listen
struggling
through darkness
and my pain
to try and
recognize
who it is
it's me Jean
the voice says
turning round
to the sound
I reach out
to touch her
feel her hand
she holds mine
her fingers
rubbing mine
how are you?
her voice asks
are you ok
outside here
in the grounds
I hate it
inside there
on the ward
of that dark
hospital
I tell her
I hear her
bring a chair
and sit down
next to me
I'm fine here
she replies
weather's warm
the skies blue
she pauses
how are you?
I feel left
in the dark
and legless
I reply
you still have
your humour
I can see
I'm silent
for a moment
smelling her
taking in
her perfume
that smells good
I tell her
what smells good?
your perfume
its is called
Primitif
Max Factor
she replies
I have none
all mine went
in the blast
but a nurse
has lent me
a bottle
I utter
I reach down
seeing if
my nightgown
covers up
my leg stumps
now bandaged
Jean's silent
possibly
horrified
at the sight
of me there
with no legs
and no sight
when she knows
I loved to
go dancing
and go see
the ballets
now nothing
but darkness
sitting here
in this chair
(a wheelchair)
do they hurt?
she asks me
all the time
I have drugs
but the pain
comes through it
I reply
I'm sorry
she utters
don't be please
I don't want
the pity
I just want
my friends back
as they were
not just come
to see me
as I am
like some freak
I utter
harder than
I meant to
her two hands
now grip mine
you're no freak
she whispers
your our Grace
without legs
or your sight
still our Grace
there's quiet
as if God
had turned off
all the sounds
of His world
no bird song
no traffic
no breeze near
no breathing
then I say
I want life
want to live
have children
be a wife
believe it
and you will
Jean replies
bird song's back
and traffic
as if God
had turned on
all the sounds
of His world
and I am
in this dark
and darkness
as if hurled.
Jan 28, 2016
Jan 28, 2016 at 3:13 AM UTC
Hello Grace
someone says
I listen
struggling
through darkness
and my pain
to try and
recognize
who it is
it's me Jean
the voice says
turning round
to the sound
I reach out
to touch her
feel her hand
she holds mine
her fingers
rubbing mine
how are you?
her voice asks
are you ok
outside here
in the grounds
I hate it
inside there
on the ward
of that dark
hospital
I tell her
I hear her
bring a chair
and sit down
next to me
I'm fine here
she replies
weather's warm
the skies blue
she pauses
how are you?
I feel left
in the dark
and legless
I reply
you still have
your humour
I can see
I'm silent
for a moment
smelling her
taking in
her perfume
that smells good
I tell her
what smells good?
your perfume
its is called
Primitif
Max Factor
she replies
I have none
all mine went
in the blast
but a nurse
has lent me
a bottle
I utter
I reach down
seeing if
my nightgown
covers up
my leg stumps
now bandaged
Jean's silent
possibly
horrified
at the sight
of me there
with no legs
and no sight
when she knows
I loved to
go dancing
and go see
the ballets
now nothing
but darkness
sitting here
in this chair
(a wheelchair)
do they hurt?
she asks me
all the time
I have drugs
but the pain
comes through it
I reply
I'm sorry
she utters
don't be please
I don't want
the pity
I just want
my friends back
as they were
not just come
to see me
as I am
like some freak
I utter
harder than
I meant to
her two hands
now grip mine
you're no freak
she whispers
your our Grace
without legs
or your sight
still our Grace
there's quiet
as if God
had turned off
all the sounds
of His world
no bird song
no traffic
no breeze near
no breathing
then I say
I want life
want to live
have children
be a wife
believe it
and you will
Jean replies
bird song's back
and traffic
as if God
had turned on
all the sounds
of His world
and I am
in this dark
and darkness
as if hurled.
A WOMAN IS VISITED IN HOSPITAL BY A FRIEND IN 1940.
Request permission to use this poem