Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Residents


Their names are screwed tight 
to the Resident's Directory
hanging visible by the door 
opening one way ~ no escape. 
He dresses up proper to read the news
one more time. Changing chairs makes 
the old news new. 
Elsie ran away to be a bride before 
his father could interrupt love. 
A work tent by the rail road's 
 newly laid track ~ her nuptial bed. 
Jesus loves me is the only song 
she remembers. She sings it heartfelt,
 over and over, now that she isn't a child. 
We come to see our mother who doesn't 
know we came. When her limp hands wake
to clasp back tender, our smiles tremble. 
Wedding bands worn thin
don't lie. 





9 comments:

Louise Gallagher said...

Oh Kathleen.

Hugs.

togetherforgood said...

This is so raw and sad and beautiful somehow. :(

Maureen said...

Very tender, very moving. Hugs.

S. Etole said...

all of the above ...

Anonymous said...

one of my sister's three jobs is in a nursing home. she works there from 6pm to 10 am. getting them ready for bed after supper, and then getting them ready for breakfast in the morning, as well as sleeping there incase she is needed in the night. i spent one night with her there as they had an empty room for a couple of days and a cot.

Marcus Goodyear said...

I get it now. Goodness, this is powerful. I especially like the images of the names screwed tight, the new chair that makes the old news new, and visiting the mother who doesn't know you came.

Anonymous said...

WOW!! Totally beautiful Kathleen!
ss

A Simple Country Girl said...

Just

L
O
V
E.

Ann Kroeker said...

I love the story in the poem and the story in the photos, too.