Dogwood Petals Float By the Factory
Bleeping EKG. Metal bed
rails locked. Long green
hospital socks slipping
from shin to ankle. Catheter
hidden under a towel
because in this 24
bed county hospital – down
the pike from Carnival Foam
& Rubber – urine
is an embarrassment. Outside
the factory where they press
deck plugs & industrial
strength face shields,
dogwood petals float
like ripped silk in late day
light. Polyurethane fumes
spin invisibly. I spot
a big-rig on Gallatin Pike;
its rumble vibrates the purple
plastic tumbler on Dad’s dietary
tray. I am listening for his last
agonal gasp. I always wanted
to be the ideal daughter. The hospital
monitor goes flat. I cannot count
his inhales & exhales. With blossoms,
the wider world unfurls.
12 thoughts on "Dogwood Petals Float By the Factory"
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full to the brim..
everything at once
this poem feels like a thing
to be absorbed, instead of read.
i’m often impressed in your work-with your control of timing/pace.. with you, we are in good hands.
Beautiful ending, Linda. And as usual you pick the perfect images to move us through the poem. Those dogwood petals in an industrial setting, oh. And slipping in that “I always wanted/ to be the ideal daughter” — a bit of genius.
Incredible imagery.
Great poem.
the softness of a petal with a terminal EKG and a new world unfurling like a sail – oh I get such new pictures reading your work!
Wow, this is so vivid — I can see and feel it all.
the unfurling dogwood blossom has the fineness of Murasaki’s writing
Amazing poem, full of string details. The ending is perfect. I have a couple of copy editing suggestions that I will share with you privately.
Looking forward to it!
Linda, I’m finally catching up and have read several of your poems. Stunning! Such range and depth, so many voices. Wow, wow.
“Float like ripped silk” is breathtaking. I love how this ends with a hint of freedom on the horizon after a terrible loss.
Man! Beathtaking real!
Love:
dogwood petals float
like ripped silk in late day
light.
How touching, from your wants to your reality, and his. Wow.