Bedside Manners
Sometimes in the fever of my dreams
Mom is alive but dying…
Here she is, going again… an alternate version
conjured in my vulnerable, variable mind
DAD has come to pay his respects to his wife
who is laid up, Frida Kahlo style
Four-postered with guests
He enters to their collective gasp
because he’s brought his girlfriend along
(now I know it’s a dream because he
is asking permission)
She is a short one, tanned midsummer dark, brown hair
Big smile. Would be likeable
if not for the timing and her smarmy date (Dad,
who holds her hand while his
other paw is on her shoulder
like a pull on a bra strap)
Mama smiles, honest to God
She seems happy
Then Dad’s date begins to shrink
Below his shoulder, almost to his elbow, then
shorter still as Mom watches fondly/strangely
Same straight hair, same dark coloring, same
as me
Same brown eyes, same smile, same
as me
And then it hits me, I understand Mom’s smile
She wasn’t happy
She was relieved
Sometimes the best way to
get a bad man out of your bedroom
is to send him across the hall
© 2015 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Open Link Night, the Tuesday Platform at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads! Love me some gardening, especially on such a beeeeeautiful day here in Wisconsin. Peace, Amy
#abuse #WithRealToads #poetry #freeverse #daughters #night #openlink #death&dying
Sharp Little Pencil 
ihatepoetry
Oh my goodness, Ameleh! This was about as raw and truthful a piece from you as I ever read. The punch at the end is even more powerful because the tone of this was all so light- even comical. All these years later I can’t imagine what the unexpected memory will bring about, but I pray you can find some respite and peace from them. May God bless you, Ameleh – yes, we’re always on the same wave length! Love, el Mosk
sharplittlepencil
This one does manage to crystallize humor and horror, I was very satisfied with the poem itself, Buddah my bruddah. But the “memory” lingers, because it came from an actual dream. Dreams occupy that strange space in one’s mind… thanks, hon.
Sherry Blue Sky
I am SO grinning! I began to think as I read that it likely was no problem for her that he had a girlfriend, and so this poem ended perfectly for me, LOL. I remember my ex always accusing me of wanting other men. I told him another man was the LAST thing I needed, one was bad enough. Hee hee.
Sanaa
Oh I do love this poem 😀
The last line does it for me.. its what they call kick-ass!
Beautifully executed 😀
xoxo
sharplittlepencil
Sanaa, so happy to see you here again. Thanks for a lovely comment. On my way back to your site!
Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
Aaaargh!!!!
sharplittlepencil
From your lips to God’s ears…
ManicDdaily
Yes–agree with all the above–a very eerie poem still with a good sense of humor. Thanks. k.
sharplittlepencil
Thanks, Karin. I guess there is room for both… and if you want funny and sick, just ask people from alcoholic Irish Protestant families… I guess!! Amy
Thomas M. Watt
Amy! I’ve missed you!
sharplittlepencil
Honey, I just looked at your blog. It’s too late to get started on a story, but I have bookmarked for tomorrow. Missed you, too, definitely. Welcome back! McW rules!! Amy
Helen
So much lurking beyond / behind your words ~~~
sharplittlepencil
Helen, thanks for an intuitive comment… A
M
powerful, gritty, but – not dark, so much as – clear ~
sharplittlepencil
Michael, this is great praise indeed. Thanks for partaking. A
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
Oh that end Amy.. what a terrible terrible way of describing the story behind. I just wonder how you and other copes with memories like that. But maybe just ridicule the actors like you’ve done is a great way. I have missed your presence, but I have also been away a while..
sharplittlepencil
Bjorn, thanks so much. I have missed you, too, and I will come visit tonight (your blog, not your house, eeeew, that’s creepy!!). Writing is a way to exorcise these buggers, you know? Amy
Kim McMillan
powerful. I’m sorry this happened to you. (HUGS) From: Sharp Little Pencil – Amy Barlow Liberatore To: kimsmcmillan@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 6:06 PM Subject: [New post] Bedside Manner (Imaginary Garden With Real Toads) #yiv9797785788 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9797785788 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9797785788 a.yiv9797785788primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9797785788 a.yiv9797785788primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9797785788 a.yiv9797785788primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9797785788 a.yiv9797785788primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9797785788 WordPress.com | sharplittlepencil posted: “Bedside MannersSometimes in the fever of my dreamsMom is alive but dying…Here she is, going again… an alternate versionconjured in my vulnerable, variable mindDAD has come to pay his respects to his wifewho is laid up, Frida Kahlo styleF” | |
sharplittlepencil
Thanks so much, Kim. Hugs back! Amy
Marian
Hah, just imagine, asking permission! Argh.
sharplittlepencil
You’ve got it right there, sister! Amy
Magaly Guerrero
The first line grabbed me by the throat… then I got to the end and I wanted to punch something. Someone. Two someones. Hard. And then take a child away…
Those last three painful lines were masterfully delivered. The shrinking was perfectly done. Art is such a wonderful thing; to give us the tool to turn something rotten into a jewel…
(((♥))
sharplittlepencil
This one came about like good knitting. I just paid attention and threaded along until the conclusion. The final lines of the poem were the final lines written. Says a lot about trusting the process, when the piece lays itself in order, huh? Thanks so much for your comments, Magaly. Very much appreciated. Amy
readerwil
This mixture of bitterness and humor makes me feel unhappy and sorry for what happened with you. Thanks for your comment on my post. Again a lot of bitterness mixed with your knowledge about the bible. You can look at the bible in many different ways. It depends on yourself how you see it. But thank you for showing me what’s wrong in those gospels. The man the gospelwriters write about , showed that women were just as precious as men and women were not afraid of him.
vandana
No matter what but parents will always live in our heart:)
Sabra Bowers
Your writing has given me the courage to write about my own family hurts. I like how you write from your whole self, Amy.
purplepeninportland
Powerful poem with the ability to make one cringe yet smile.