Monday, April 13, 2015

Waiting

"Time is the school in which we learn."  -Joan Didion

The waiting room attendant
is bright, chipper, relentless
as an alarm clock.

The room itself is filled with
soft muzak and soap opera dialog
competing to be white noise, but
at least they cover over
the florescent hum.

I sip elderly, burnt coffee
without really tasting it
as I recite silent prayers and promises
to learn the lessons of patience.


In the Imaginary Garden we were asked to write something based on a quote from Joan Didion.

13 comments:

  1. Nicely done! Damn the elderly burnt coffee and patience~

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  2. Beautifully done, saying by not saying.

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  3. not a fan of hospitals. been in them too many times, I suppose. the smell never leaves; like that white noise, we just suppress the memory - but it's still there ~

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  4. Sitting there in germ filled places is the worst

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  5. O my goodness, Mary. You told it right with a light touch.
    Yes, even walking through an emergency room can be bad for one's health. I went twice as a patient and one time I waited the next day to be stitched up in our 'urgent care' facility. That was to stay out of the waiting room at a time when the flu was all around. Another time they misdiagnosed me, the third time was for an X-ray at a time when the regular facility had closed theirs.

    I have also been there just to accompany family or friends. One person had her stomach pumped, a procedure which is not needed. Our dog had vomiting induced to avoid the pumping. But the ER people seemed to me that their role is to teach a lesson with vengeance, at least that night
    ..

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  6. I sip elderly, burnt coffee
    without really tasting it
    as I recite silent prayers and promises
    to learn the lessons of patience.

    This is so intense... it makes us realize that when the heart is troubled... and begs for peace.. the mere morsel in our mouth feels tasteless.. due to the burden on the mind. All we want is peace.. and pray for patience and perseverance...!
    Loved your poem :)
    xoxo

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  7. Agh--too painful--know those rooms. Very well conveyed. Thanks. k.

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  8. This resonates! Love the alarm clock simile.

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  9. Thank you everyone. I'm both glad and sorry it resonates with you. I'm not quite pleased with the phrase, "elderly, burnt coffee" so I may change that. This was from an experience I had on Monday, waiting (about 7 hours) for a friend who was having back surgery. And, if you're wondering, the surgery itself went well, but recovery from something like that is a long road. Fingers crossed.

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  10. Waiting sucks, and the feel of waiting rooms is so unpleasant--the sterile decor trying to be homy, the uncomfortable furniture, all the attempts to see to your comfort (the elderly, burnt coffee--really that's a good phrase, Mary-I can taste it and have tasted it in every waiting room, ever) often seem to do just the opposite--this is a very clean, sharp and feeling poem.Best wishes for your friend.

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  11. I have spent many hours waiting like this. "elderly, burnt coffee" I love that description. Thanks so much for taking part in the challenge.

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