Kerry came up with the challenge of writing a poem, based on the Charles Dickens novel, "A Tale of Two Cities"~ I found this one difficult to do; It was during this time, life as I knew it, completely changed.
Termination dust sighted
Spawning bed disturbed
Poison leaves permanent toxic scar
Fragile seaweed tears flow
Bitter heart shivers
Barren thoughts appear, permafrost path
How do I go on?
Dreams of Sterling Highway
Turquoise blue water n' Fireweed pink
Promise of pitter patter, unearthed
Tarnished silver moon's kiss fades
Big Dipper netting, catches haunted nightmare
Bittersweet conditions, balance tilted
Ladder of faith, broke
Fragile glacier heart slowly melts
Second chance, shuffled dreams
Pristine ebony blue velvet sky
Thick ribbons of green n' gold flutter, flirt and dance
like butterfly wings
Celebrate second chance, second birthday
back to the drawing board
Paint new memories
rocking chair evenings
lightening bugs dance
near porch of seasoned golden years.
I was medivacced off Adak Island,Alaska, in the Aleutian chain, during my lst pregnancy. I lost my first child and gave birth to Type 1 diabetes. My life was forever changed, I spent 3 weeks in a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. The Navy wouldn't let me go back to the island to pack my stuff or say good-bye. I was kicked off the island. They finally sent me home to live with my Mother, till my husband finished his orders on the island. I survived 1380 blood sugar and have two healthy children. It could have been prevented, there were signs that were dismissed. I went to the ER every weekend. I was 5 months pregnant and weighed 106 lbs. My blood work was forever lost,it had been drawn 24hrs before. I woke up to my Dr crying near my bedside. He was going to go to Bethesda, the big Naval hospital (where the President goes for his check ups); He feared if I died it would ruin his career.
I tried to use words that described Alaska, Fireweed is a flower, Northern Lights, termination dust is the first snow appearance on the mountain peaks. A sign that winter will soon be here.
Thank you for this. I had a similar train of thought when I saw the prompt and decided not to go there. You have encouraged and inspired me to take a second look at those thoughts. And I can see why this experience would alter your life. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteIt was a mind/body altering change. Life as I had known it, well it has never been the same.
I hope encouraging you to move forward will be healing in some way. It is not an everyday thought, but I do prick my fingers and take insulin shots, every day and have since that day.
My second birthday is June 18th. My first one is in May. I struggled, I didn't know if I really wanted to share this, but it is a part of me, as is what happened to you~xXx
Wow, Ellie, thanks for being brave enough to "go there" and share that. How horribly painful - and preventable, had the doctors been alert. Wow. Humans are strong, hey, to come through so much? Your two wonderful children have hopefully helped a great deal to ease the pain of that. But yes, I can certainly see, having come that close to death, that you have a second birthday!!!!!! You were definitely recalled to life, and for a reason. You must must must keep writing! The words you used for this poem are amazing.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Ellie...this is such a powerful post! The poem is so haunting and precise...your description of the Northern Lights is beautifully lyrical.
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite thing about blogging is getting to meet people like you who bravely put their hearts out there with their words...thank you for that.
A beautiful piece of writing that tells such a heartbreaking story. Thanks for sharing this with us. x (((Hugs)))
ReplyDeleteWow, Ella a very powerful write about a horrible
ReplyDeletetragedy in your life.
Pamela