Whispers from the Reaper

I answer a late call from an elderly friend

sharing the news of her husband’s test results.

No news that comes late is ever good…

Her words come in short bursts—

“Cancer of the lymph nodes,

  aggressive chemo suggested

  but he’s old… worn-out…tired.”

“Second choice: not-so-aggressive chemo,

  five-hour stint once a week for six weeks”

 “No guarantees.”

I hear the weight in her voice, the quiver…

then the words,

“Gotta go, can’t talk anymore.”

I‘m left thinking of the past dozen years,

all the tests my own husband’s had. How often

we’ve held our collective breath awaiting

results…always with the same thought:

 “Not cancer, not terminal, we can deal with it.”

And I wonder…how many times can one

 elude the boatman before he exacts his toll?

©  Ginny Brannan 2013

Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

Photo by Steven Kelly

Dragging in low gear, I follow the crowd;

reaching an impasse,  or maybe just stalled…

stuck in this limbo, just spinning my wheels,

trying to inch forward in search of ideals.

That far off horizon beckons to me;

but clouds overhead decline to agree.

It’s time to rev engine—to distance those fears—

and find that fine line where the road disappears.

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Sharing at The Mag #183—image provided by Tess Kincaid.

She provides the image, we the story!

Sharing at dVerse Poets Open Link Night #111

In my Mother’s Footsteps…

“The bile in my throat betrays the fear;

I stave against the words that I may hear”

Today I learn my fate—

not from crystal ball,

but from some robot

preprogrammed to find  

even tiniest trace of  

genetic mutation.

Name finally called;

walking toward office,

doctor whispers:

  “I have good news for you…”

    …and tears escape.

© Ginny Brannan 2013

In loving memory of my mom, Tina (1921-1963)

A story in 55 words, shared at d’Verse Meeting the Bar: Getting Tight (in here)
Sharing with the G-man, Mr. KnowItAll Friday Flash 55

The first two lines written a couple of weeks ago as I was awaiting results for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. Wasn’t sure where I was going to go with them, but they rolled over well into my 55 word story. Thanks for the idea Brian!  

Tardis Dreams

I dreamed a door between two worlds,

a time-tear in reality

transporting me into a place

where pain and sadness cease to be.

And as I slipped through hidden port

into this realm of fantasy,

I saw envisioned hopes and wants

existing there in clarity.

In dream state only, place exists...

yet, as the dawn unleashes me—

this world encountered still remains

embedded in my memory.

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Photo by Elena Kalis

Written for The Mag #182--image provided by Tess Kincaid.

She provides the image, we the story!

Beside the Falls

Wash away past indiscretions

all the unknowns that I fear;

take away elapsed transgressions

elevating all that’s dear.

Rain your waters down this mountain

fanning spray o’er rock-strewn ledge—

allay the demons with your thunder

lest they harbor near your edge.

Leave me cleansing in your shadows

sloughing off the silt you dredge.

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Image taken by author at Thundering Falls, Killington,VT 8/7/13.

Sharing at dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night Week 109

Road to Perdition

On winding path of dirt and stone

where phantom memories abound,

we face our enemies alone.

While passing through this vast unknown,

odd echoes from the past resound

upon this path of dirt and stone.

We wear these shells of flesh and bone

and though our allies rally 'round,

we face our enemies alone.

And for each sin that we atone

we take a step toward higher ground,

along this path of dirt and stone.

We struggle, but we can’t postpone

abysmal pools where dreams have drowned

while facing enemies alone…

and so we gather what is sown

and hold tight to the truths we’ve found;

on winding path of dirt and stone,

we face our enemies alone.

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Sharing at d'Verse Poets Pub Open Link Night Week #108

Perspective

Original image, Green Gecko, taken by author at Magic Wings, Deerfield, MA.