I walk past the bag
The bag of knots in the bushes
They are building a house
Next to the bush
Where the bag is
Next to the walls
That are broken and ruined
I feel relief
In a way
That the builders are in
Next to the broken walls
They make the decision
To go
I have to leave the black bag
I smile at one of the young men
He smiles back
As if his hands
Full of brick dust
Foster in me a comfort
A protection from my own dust
I walk past
Many times
I remember when I did not have to leave what I need
In the bushes
In the dog shit bag
(black is less visible in leaves)
When I could carry it with me all day
And all day the nagging in my head
screaming shouting laughing
do it do it do it
So loud that even the angels in the church turned towards me and laughed
There are fifteen days left in room 23
I don’t think that I will be coming back.
i want your future road to be free of potholes and obsticles...
ReplyDeleteOo I wonder what the inspiration for this was.
ReplyDeleteGlimmers here, Jae: Smiles shared between the dusty worker and the girl... the decision to leave the black bag behind, never to go back. This is big stuff. This is well written. This is art, from life. Perhaps your life is art...
ReplyDeleteLike how my comment resembles a Mobius Strip?
:-)!!!
it's good that the bag is left behind baggage that hurts is good left behind and then we can move on.Lovely imagery Jaerose.
ReplyDeleteI like the strength and determination in this. I also like the thought that nobody else really knows Alice; she has been in room 23 for six months and nobody knows her. May those angels always laugh with you and lift you up when you need their help.
ReplyDeleteThank you Glenn..we moved on from beans though!
ReplyDeleteMy noodle..thanks Ben! ;)
I had to google the meaning..thank you..maybe more a happy accident than art! thank you Kim :)
Thank you Sheilagh..
I know she has gone un-noticed that's for sure..hopefully those angels will laugh with me..not at me..little buggers! Thanks OldEgg..
Jae
My goodness! What a work. Indeed, don't go back to room 23.
ReplyDeleteI should cocoa..thanks Christopher..Jae
ReplyDeleteJae, I don't think you will be coming back either. You don't want to enter 'hell' again!
ReplyDeleteA man who does simple, meaningful work shares a smile and familiarity with dust. That and the true nature of that black bag are your big metaphors today. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteWRT Mary's comment, hell is a place we make for ourselves and then jump in. Because you made hell, you have the power to un-make it, avoid that leap.
Fifteen days and counting! Wish I could send you some cupcakes to celebrate.
Thinking a bag of knots is best left behind rather than carried around and some walls are best broken down.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary.. :)
ReplyDeleteMmm a cupcake would be nice..thanks Ann..your comment is just as good though..thank you..
Yes indeed..thank you Nara..
Jae
Took me a couple of times to get it - it was that great a piece and profound and so well written... left me in awe of your writing
ReplyDeleteAmazing as always
Strange, I wrote you a comment on your last post and on this one but they seem to have vanished. I usually come back to see if you've commented on the comments. I hope you will not re-visit that room or, these times Jae.
ReplyDeleteThe world is waiting for you to grab it by the ears now and say: "Hey world, I'm back!"
Keep on keeping on Jae, we will be eagerly waiting to read all of your new adventures once you leave room 23 and take that amazing talent with you to create new blog posts to share with us
Thank you Anya..and for reading twice..
ReplyDeleteThank you DayDreamer..I have your comment like a treasure..always welcome and keeping me going... :)
Thank you
Jae
I love the way the poems stitch together to form a progression. Are you going to put together a chap book? You should.
ReplyDeleteI loved this poem when I read it yesterday, but couldn't think of the words to tell you why. I still can't, but the fact that I'm still carrying the image of the belongings in a black bag in the bushes shows it's very powerful. What is room 23? (if you don't mind me asking)
ReplyDeleteThanks Alice..I've not seen chapbooks in the UK..maybe it could be a project upon exiting room 23..
ReplyDeleteThanks dandelion girl I appreciate your time and thoughts..room 23 is the hospital room number I am in at the moment..my place in the nut hut! (hopefully not for much longer)..
Jae
Gorgeously haunting as usual. To me, it's like the the clean floorboard with years of hidden diaries stashed underneath! Every word you write means something. Hope the world outside your room is a little brighter.
ReplyDeleteI love the piece and I am so glad that you will be going home...I found it odd that you chose phrasing that sounded as though you liked carrying something that would nag all day in your head. Then I thought of all the baggage we all carry and refuse to let go of for years and years, that we think we need. Well said friend. Counting down the days with you :)
ReplyDeletejaerose, your entries never fail to draw me into this boxed-in,
ReplyDeletealmost forbidden world of yours.
some days we all carry around a bag of kaka.
... and you don't have to go back, either.
ReplyDeleteThank you Scribbler..what a wonderful thought..floorboards hiding diaries..there's a story..
ReplyDeleteI will have to read it and found out the sound..nagging and dragging..thank you Dee (my friend also).. ;)
Thank you Shauna..aint that the truth..kaka indeed..(the worst is the lavender infusion forced onto the shit sack..)
Absolutely not thanks Laurie..
Jae
Thank you Scribbler..what a wonderful thought..floorboards hiding diaries..there's a story..
ReplyDeleteI will have to read it and found out the sound..nagging and dragging..thank you Dee (my friend also).. ;)
Thank you Shauna..aint that the truth..kaka indeed..(the worst is the lavender infusion forced onto the shit sack..)
Absolutely not thanks Laurie..
Jae
Wonderful write!
ReplyDeleteThanks Annell..Jae x
ReplyDelete