Goldfish
A poem
It’s quiet – just her muttering and mumbling
all day long, and outside, a double-muffled
melange of frosted voices scurrying past.
The numbness she has, the gnawing, damp,
weathering of sensation, has her fidgeting
between naps, then turning her blurred eyes
to question the incomprehensible street,
or fiercely cross-examine his empty chair.
The hollowness, the wandering ache, amongst
all the dustless clutter of valuable things
in the assembly-kit that made their latest home,
is her, dispossessed of how she used to be.
For she remembers chirpy whistling days
with windows that breathed, seasons strolling
in for a chat, grubby knees at open doors,
and laughter scampering from room to room.
Now nothing stirs, nothing except time
creeping round, outdating the shiny things,
like her goldfish stalking quietus round the bowl.
Oh this is so good, too many great lines to comment on them all…”seasons strolling in for a chat” Brilliant! You never disappoint us Gerald. I must nominate this one.
Mike
Another old one! Written remembering an old lady who lived next door, and, sadly, a premonition of what were to be my mother’s last years. Many thanks for the nom, Mike.
Gerald
I agree. Writing at its best, Gerald. Pure vintage.
Well done, Luigi
I appreciate your commenting, many thanks, Luigi.
I am actually due to write another poem any moment now as my output averages out at two poems per year. The most recent one – the second part of my ‘Bombsite’ poem – was written last October and met with your approval – thank you, and thank you too for your exhortation to come up with something new. The trouble is – and you’d know if you read my message to you from a few days ago – all is not well with my ruminations about poetry, not only because all subjects that occur to me lack luster and… Read more »
I like the this one Gerald, Peter.
Thank you, Peter, I’m pleased my poem did something for you.
Gerald
I loved this sad expressive write and underlining the loneliness with the solitary goldfish in the bowl. Pure genius sir and well worthy of your nomination.