I Do Not Care About The Quarter
The doctor calls and says
The tests are back,
This isn’t good.
I give her the news.
We go for coffee.
The coffee comes, she shrugs and says
I’m sorry kid,
Looks like I made you waste a quarter.
I do not care about the quarter.
We take the coffees “to go” and drive uptown.
I refill her morphine and buy her some smokes.
We wind down 22nd and she lights up for the first time since March.
We park by Fairley’s pond and watch their swans herd a group of geese toward the bank.
Smoke from her Pall Mall wends and dissipates.
She wonders where she’ll be when next year’s callas come up.
“Right here”, I gesture, and shut my eyes to the image of
An empty Adirondack chair,
A garden filled with love-lies-bleeding.
July 20, 2008 at 4:14 am
Oh my friend…
i love you.
July 20, 2008 at 4:16 am
A beautifully told story. A bold and creative poem.
July 20, 2008 at 12:53 pm
So beautiful and sad!
July 21, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Oh!
This hurts. But you did it so well…
July 24, 2008 at 4:43 am
thanks, you guys.
i really appreciate your comments.
so very much.
July 30, 2008 at 4:42 am
clancyjane, just checking in to let you know my thoughts and prayers you…
July 30, 2008 at 4:44 am
that is, insert “are with”
July 30, 2008 at 4:44 am
that is “duh”
July 31, 2008 at 4:40 pm
quazse, i appreciate your check-in very much. our family feels everyone’s well-wishes and that makes this survivable.
i came around to make an addendum.
i was wrong about the “right here”.
as of tuesday night, there is an empty adirondack chair.
there are gardens and gardens and gardens of love lies bleeding.
July 31, 2008 at 6:06 pm
My deepest condolences to you and your family, my friend.
God bless her heart and yours.
August 2, 2008 at 5:49 pm
[...] Now, i don’t post YouTube for personal reasons, but i have a link to the song i chose. It is by the Incredible Moses Leroy and features the totally unique Miho Hatori, formerly of Cibo Matto. She’s awesome. The song is The Color of Sky and every time i hear it, i just feel… well… happysad. It is about remembering what is good. It’s a pretty song. i dedicate it to clancyjane. [...]
August 7, 2008 at 2:53 am
Just wanted to drop in and send my thoughts. Hugs, Julia
September 12, 2008 at 3:05 am
Mourning blend of grace and grief.
I received a coffee blend of the same name. I’m thankful for both.