Horizontal

Beyond the glass, the lattice ledge
where yesterday, crumbs lured a row of sparrows;
Pierre’s broom swinging left and right
against the midday blur of passing cars;
the sweep of dogwood: yellow twigs above the last grey stretch
of melting snow where just a week ago
playing figures slid above their unseen blades.

Horizontal: this day
of flattened thoughts, this codeine-couch,
this careful line of knots that trace the scalpel’s
thin red path.

(Not to worry - I'm recuperating after some dental surgery this morning. It hurts a lot right now, but everything went well.)

Comments

[Natalie]

Bonne santé, Beth! Hope your dental problems are over now.
xxx

[Dave]

Hey, nice to see you posting poems here! I like the last lines.

I just recorded some swan music for you. It's here.

[Anne Gibert]

It's a dedicated poet who finds beauty in dental surgery!

[Kaycie]

Oh, dear, I hate dental surgery. And codeine. But I love your poem. Feel better.

[mary mccloskey]

I liked the second stanza particularly. Keep it up.

[Robb]

Kia ora Beth,
Pretty cool for being Horizontal. Love the poem. Hope you feel better soon. Kia kaha.
Cheers,
Robb

[elizabeth]

oh Beth, wishing you a speedy recovery. I'll send along a few more soft-food recipes I devised over the fall...

[dale]

xoxo

[Dick]

Out of pain, a thing of craft and delicacy. A fine poem, Beth.