CHANGES
Revised quite a bit, when I first penned this I had been writing quite a bit about loss. (My story ‘Remembrance’ explains the concept – particularly of the second stanza.)
Through the glass wall I passed.
Unknowing, unfeeling, unseen.
The journey was without event –
Just the soft hormonal plunge
that stole laughter and gave tears.
And the tears that fell were void –
Without reason, without cause,
Yet they full filled my eyes,
Blurred my vision and thoughts,
Wet my trembling hands…
Hands that sought to give myself comfort
By caressing my automaton face.
No-one would understand me.
No-one would provide me solace.
In that place, behind the clear wall,
I was alone. I was lost. Depressed. Pressed.
Through the glass wall I passed.
One moment driving a country road,
The next engulfed in sudden tears.
Where was the road sign that said,
‘Danger: Depression Ahead’?
There was none! There was one
That said, ‘Uneven Road Ahead’
But I took no heed of its warning,
Driving on oblivious to innuendo
Or the subtle double entendre.
No-one would excuse my error.
No-one would give me back
My memory. My sense of self.
My sense of where I belonged.
In that place, behind the clear wall,
I was no longer in control. Possessed.
Through the glass wall I passed,
One moment self conscious,
And the next so self confident
That embarrassment was a thing
Of the past… passed and gone.
In that place, behind the clear wall,
I was given new strength. Revitalised.
Through the glass wall I passed,
and upon the other side
‘Life’ was a new thing to me.
The change was without warning –
As if chemical had been injected
While I slept… and then awakened
to find myself in eternal love.
Oh, Heaven!
A very brave expose of the devastating effects of grief, the hidden but relentless depression that lingers in the background, only to suddenly explode on the scene.with terrifying consequences. This is why bereavement counselling is often so valuable. We try to beat ourselves up with all sorts of derogatory inner dialogue that says things like “everybody dies” they had “a good innings” Time’s a great healer” etc What we often fail to address is the bone-crushing sense of loss. Not only of the person but also of all the hopes and dreams we held. Suddenly thrust into a no man’s… Read more »
Thank you for commenting and reading, Alison. I really appreciate your input on this. I so totally agree with you about the way we deal with loss. Me? God, do I miss my time! Do you understand that, I wonder? I’m not even sure I understand it, because ultimately my belief system is that time is locked only to this physical experience, and I am not too keen on perpetuating groundhog day in revisiting this planet! I think grief does have something to do with the way we deal with time. I tried – tried – to get my Mother… Read more »
Thank you, Daffni, for commenting. I’m glad you liked the combo. 🙂
Blessings and love, Allen x