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Stroke by ~freerangepenguin:iconfreerangepenguin:

Categories Literature > Poetry > General Poetry > Open


The letters play
double-dutch with their spaces,
whirling in

and out of existence, catching
breaths mid-jump
with a semicolon, mid-word,

whirring by enough
times to make you dizzy as the day
you trickled to the floor,

phone in hand,
unsure how this whole dialing affair
should work, gasping

for enough strength
to mew “help” at a blank receiver
until I dropped

our groceries at your feet,
took you to the witch
who told you your smile

would always be this way –

crooked
as my letters
you can’t read anymore.
©2009 ~freerangepenguin
:iconfreerangepenguin:

Author's Comments

It started with a writing exercise in a workshop this past semester - we were supposed to write about why we were afraid to do something. Needless to say, I didn't exactly follow the rules. :blushes: I handed it in though, and a friend of mine loved it so much, he read it in our speech class when we had to do oral interpretations. I wish I'd recorded it! He did such a wonderful job! :)

Daily Deviation

Given 2009-03-04

"This poem provides a unique dual perspective: the aphasia of the recovering stroke victim as seen through the loving eyes of the caregiver," notes the suggester of Stroke by ~freerangepenguin. A poignant recollection of an illness and the aftermath we could all relate to in some way.

(Suggested by =BornBlitzed and Featured by ^fllnthblnk)

Comments


love 0 0 joy 2 2 wow 1 1 mad 0 0 sad 0 0 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:iconbornblitzed:
=BornBlitzed Feb 19, 2009, 11:21:40 AM
Powerful and chilling. Was this based on anyone you know?

--
:| I've tried pursuing happiness. Happiness sought a restraining order.
:iconmr-youse:
~mr-youse Mar 4, 2009, 12:41:40 AM
wow! you captured a terrifying moment beautifully! also, congrats on the DD!

--
"...each has his tastes but as for i / i likes a certain party..."
[link]

Daily Literature Deviations - showcasing dA's best literary talents
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:iconthesprunk:
@TheSprunk Mar 4, 2009, 1:34:48 AM
:clap: Beautiful work. Very endearing, very powerful. :+fav:

--
Art is the proper task of life. - Nietzsche

"What's it like to operate with that much cognitive dissonance?" - ~Carnifex-Umbris
:iconthesprunk:
@TheSprunk Mar 4, 2009, 1:35:03 AM
Oh, and congrats on the DD

--
Art is the proper task of life. - Nietzsche

"What's it like to operate with that much cognitive dissonance?" - ~Carnifex-Umbris
:iconaralx:
~Aralx Mar 4, 2009, 1:53:35 AM
can you explain please =( , cause I didn't get it

--
|………..|
|………..| Put this in your
|………..| signature if you have
|…….O.| ever pushed a
|………..| door that said pull!
|………..|*or vis versa*
|………..|
:iconamberlouie:
`Amberlouie Mar 4, 2009, 2:14:45 AM
Read the description. Both the DD and the author's notes.

--
:bulletred: Clearfield Review - Prose Editor
:icongirlofgreys:
Mood: Wow! ~GirlOfGreys Mar 4, 2009, 2:31:23 AM
Sad yet sooo amazing!

--
~Love is like a photograph...they both develop in darkness.~
:iconfrancine1991:
~Francine1991 Mar 4, 2009, 2:40:36 AM
Very thought-provoking; my Grandad had a stroke, and this reflects quite effectively how he reacted – and the aftermath.

--
...and you can consider that the end of the matter.
:iconlovestelly:
~lovestelly Mar 4, 2009, 4:53:36 AM
Amazing, very poignant.

My grandfather had a stroke a couple months before he passed away. Afterwards, it was like he had been broken down to his core elements. The only person he fully recognized was my grandmother. He sort of knew his children and us, his grandchildren, were strangers to him. He did seem very happy to see us though when we visited in the hospital.

It is nice to be reminded of him even if it is of something that changed him significantly.
:iconjomsz:
Mood: Joy ~jomsz Mar 4, 2009, 5:48:32 AM
"It started with a writing exercise in a workshop this past semester - we were supposed to write about why we were afraid to do something. Needless to say, I didn't exactly follow the rules. I handed it in though, and a friend of mine loved it so much, he read it in our speech class when we had to do oral interpretations. I wish I'd recorded it! He did such a wonderful job! "


hahah.. and it earned so much respect..:D good thing right?!! haha!! and plus.. i find this lines the strongest in your work..

"and out of existence, catching
breaths mid-jump
with a semicolon, mid-word"

haha!! nice work!!

--
"I am not just an artist... I am an artist at work"
--
:rzero: .K.I.N.G. :rzero:
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