I remember walking into the school building
The hallways seemed to be more hurried then it was normally
The air dense but withstandable
I remember hearing words fly from the mouths of other students
Words I barely new the meaning of
Death
It was everywhere poisoning the hallways
The classrooms
It seemed to be stuck on the ceiling and walls like gas
But I woar a mask of doubt
It couldn't be true
It just couldn't
Rumors!
My mind screamed to me
Rumors terrible rumors!
Lies they lie to me!
I went into my classroom
Keeping calm
Then my teacher said it...

"I know you've all have heard of Alexandra's death. She drowned, counselors will be free all week, if anyone needs to talk..."

My mask was pulled off my face
I was now choking on all the gas that made up the reality around me
I searched for something to tell me this was a joke... a dream... anything but real
I began to cry
Tears not like a leaky pipe
But like a waterfall
Much like the one she drowned in
I began to drown
Although metaphorically
She drowned physically
Her body was pulled beneath waves of water and it took her life
And took her away from me

Those days I didn't understand completely
But a drastic change overtook me
I began to see death
He bagan to walk by my side
The sound of gurgling water filled my ears at night
The picture of her face and beneath the surface of the water blinded my eyes she screamed
She cried
But her tears were washed away by the current
And I stood on the side of the river
Watching her drown
I stood without out a sound
As the bubbles grew fewer and the struggling ceased
I stood sickened
Why couldn't it be me

A Career From Bed

It’s luxury.
To lie in bed, thinking thoughts;
Pillowed head, notepad and whatnots;
Lifting laptop at my side
(my writing bride –
or husband, as the case may be)
And write my poetry.

Uncomplicated, ‘easy peasy’
(English jargon) child’s play
To type some fragments,
Work them through,
Sending them away
To you.

In come the comments.
Not a penny changes hands.
No long-term contracts –
Only contacts,
“Like you”come-backs
Unseen as a daytime star:
With sweet, smart followers galore.

This passive bed of roses
Lap of splendor and much more…
Career from bed
Conducted solely from my head,
Solely in unsaid creation.
What in heavens could be bed-der?
(Sorry for the awful pun;
An un-withstandable temptation).

A Career From Bed 4.4.2018 A Sense Of The Ridiculous II; The Processes: Creative, Thinking, Meditative II; Arlene Corwin