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Monday 20 November 2017

Poetry Monday: Light

It's Poetry Monday, and the topic this week is "light."

Join Diane, Delores, Joan (in the comments here) and me as we try to shed some light on "light" . . . Read, critique, leave a poem in the comments or post one on your blog and tell us where to find you. It's all for fun so have a good time with it.

The only thing that came to my mind around the topic of light was the phrase "go toward the light" . . . and given the fall I had a few weeks ago, I wasn't exactly partial to writing about that. It feels like tempting Fate.

. . . Oh, what the heck, eh? Tempting, shmempting . . . Let's go there.



Missed By THAT Much

My foot did slip upon the stair;
My back did bear the consequence.
I'm paying still for that wild fall,
And here it is, near three weeks hence.

But Oh! My dears! It could be worse;
I could have hit elsewhere instead.
I could have ended in a hearse
If I had landed on my head.

So every day I tell myself:
While falling wasn't very bright,
At least I'm still alive to say
I did not go toward the light.

*****

Sorry to be going on and on about that fall, but maybe you'll forgive me if I tell you I spent hours trying to find inspiration, but when I thought of "light" in this way, the poem itself took ten minutes. Hah! Take that, Dylan Thomas!

(Please, Fate, don't be mad at me for using Dylan Thomas' name like that.)

And just to update you with actual facts about my back, I've been to my own GP and am scheduled for an x-ray tomorrow. My doctor is pretty sure I just have soft tissue damage, but he wants to set my mind at ease. I'm still having pain while sitting unless I'm leaning forward on my arms or elbows. Did I ever mention that my employment requires me to sit for prolonged periods without leaning forward on my arms or elbows? Well, it does. I see physio in my future.

Hope you have a good week, and if you see any bright lights . . . you know what to do.



It turns out that the light I saw was just the ceiling light fixture. No, this is not our fixture. But it's much more interesting than ours. (courtesy of Pixabay)




 

45 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Loving your poem.
And grateful that you didn't go forward into the light.
I hope your mind is set at rest after the x-ray. And that your physio is an efficient terrorist (so-described because they seem to delight in other's pain).

River said...

I like your poem a lot and that light fixture too, but I'm glad I don't have to be cleaning it. I hope the x-ray shows only soft tissue damage. Isn't it annoying how much longer things take to feel better as we get older?

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Light

An eider duck feather
A snowflake falling in wintry weather
A single wild oat
A new banknote
A lock of your hair
The seeds of a pear
The whiskers from a cat
The ribbon from your hat
A single rose petal
A leaf from a nettle
Your silhouette
An ounce of regret
Pray please confirm I’m right
That all these things are light.

baili said...

Oh dear Jenny after reading this poem i just want to "hug you!!!"

so tight and want to kiss your forehead just to show my love and concern for your health .
i am under the medicines affect and before them was suffering with terrible joints pain and while going under such painful circumstances how can one create poetry i know this very well still your spontaneous poetic expressions are touching dear girl!

learning about your job position is even shock for me but tests come always to dearests of God most i heard .
hope x ray will be help for better cure my friend!
please stay positive and take care

only slightly confused said...

Backs take a while to get back to normal. Why is it if you have back pain your whole body is in misery? Hopeful healing thoughts headed your way. And the poem, a delight.

Marie Smith said...

How fortunate you didn’t break your hip either. I hope you feel better soon, Jenny.

I enjoyed your poem, especially the last two lines!

Anonymous said...

Hello Jenny, glad the pain is easing a bit, but it must be very awkward not being able to sit properly. Roll on the physio - they'll sort you out, but perhaps not without more pain. What about a chiropractor? More pain again.

Anyway, onto the frivolous stuff. If I haven't got inspiration when I see the next weeks theme I leave it for a day or so, then if still no inspiration, I force myself to think about all aspects of it. I have even looked the relevant word up in the dictionary to inspire me. This is my offering this week.

Light

A memory is shrouded in darkness,
When re-call does not come.
Of an answer to a question,
Oh! How can I be so dumb?

It's quiz night at the local
And I'm running neck and neck,
With that know-it-all woman,
Oh, what's the answer? Oh heck!

The others have been beaten,
They've fallen by the way.
Encouraging me to do my best,
Hopeful of what I will say.

Then the shroud is lifted,
When I can see the light.
Of course; how could I forget,
The answer which is so right.

I've won! I've got my prize,
But better still than that,
I beat that know-it-all woman,
With my pride remaining intact.

Hope you have a good week.

Joan (Devon)

Red said...

Physio works wonders!

Steve Reed said...

Well, I think it's perfectly understandable that you would write about such a major event! And somehow I don't think Dylan Thomas would mind. I'm glad the verdict appears to be soft tissue damage alone (confirmation TK). Hope you're feeling better and better soon!

Chicken said...

Your poem is charming and that photo is gorgeous. I'm glad you didn't land on your head.

jenny_o said...

That makes two of us who are grateful, EC :) Physio people can definitely hurt while they're helping!

jenny_o said...

Yes, there's no quick bouncing back, is there? Bleh. I'm super glad I don't have to clean that chandelier too.

jenny_o said...

Nice one, YP. I do wonder, though, if a single wild oat and an ounce of regret might be very heavy ... Well, you asked for confirmation!

Thanks for joining in.

jenny_o said...

Thank you for your kind wishes, baili - I will be glad to have the x-ray and know for sure that nothing is wrong that can't be fixed by time and, probably, physiotherapy :)

jenny_o said...

Thanks, Delores. I sense you may have had some close encounters with back pain yourself.

jenny_o said...

Thank you, Marie - and yep, a broken hip would have been much worse, too. I'm actually amazed I fared as well as I did.

jenny_o said...

Hah! I think we all know that feeling of wanting to beat the know-it-all, Joan! Well done! Quiz night sounds like fun but a bit nerve-wracking :)

I tried all those things you mentioned, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who HAS to try them now and then. I also looked up other poems about light and tried to take inspiration, but it was just a big blank! Ah well, it all worked out in the end :)

jenny_o said...

I agree, Red. I've had physio before and was astounded how the therapists know just what to do. They fixed me up quite well.

jenny_o said...

Thanks, Steve. The time is starting to drag :)

jenny_o said...

Me, too, Chickie, meeeee toooo ...

As River said above - pretty light but I wouldn't want to clean it!

Jono said...

When I go toward the light it is usually at the end of a tunnel and often on the front end of a train. I wondered what was going to rhyme with "consequence".

jenny_o said...

That's not an overly good light to go toward, either, but hopefully you know that :)

Ha ha! I try to figure out the rhyming words first, then fill in the rest!

Janie Junebug said...

Soft tissue damage can be serious, so please don't take it lightly if that's what it is. Take good care of yourself and don't overdo it.

Love,
Janie

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

Oh, I feel your pain. And you have every right to talk about it. You've earned it!
Especially when you talk about it in rhyme! ;)

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

Oh my word! Yes!

dinthebeast said...

When I was in rehab they referred to physio as PT, supposedly short for pain and torture. I didn't find it that way, and am eternally grateful for the attention my therapists paid to getting me up on my feet again.
I had to get my foot x-rayed after I dropped a ramp on it once, just to make sure it wasn't broken and wouldn't be damaged if I continued to work.

I can't remember what the original subject was, but during a discussion of some unpleasant behavior, Briana said "Good question" to which I replied "I think a good question would have been 'Will you hold this while I light it?'"

-Doug in Oakland

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

PT does wonders and time does too.

I tend to want to go into the light because I can’t see in the dark.

Martha said...

You did great with the poem but I do hope you start feeling much better soon. And thankfully you didn't land on your head or break a hip...or break any bone for that matter.

jenny_o said...

I did not know that . . . I'll have to check Dr. Google to find out more. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks, Janie. I'm kind of a wimp, so that helps me to avoid overdoing it.

jenny_o said...

I was desperate to get my poem written! Is that a good excuse too? ha ha

jenny_o said...

Hah! Yet another kind of "light" :)

Yeah, I should have just had the x-ray when I was at Emerg but I felt like the doctor there was subtly saying it would be unwarranted. Our health care system is overused as it is, so I was trying to do my bit. But I'm glad my own doctor insisted. It will help me move forward and get the Pain and Torture started (love that definition)!

jenny_o said...

Hee hee! Good point, Arleen!

I think you're right about time . . . any injury needs a chance to heal.

jenny_o said...

I shiver when I think of what could have happened. It takes an act of faith to go downstairs now; I'm much more careful. Thanks for the good wishes, Martha.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

What is Mr Tolley doing?

jenny_o said...

Behave, Mr. Pudding Man!

Anonymous said...

Jenny, I liked reading your poem I feel it was very well written!

My heart goes out to you though, Jenny, for the pain you're in. I've had back pain before so I certainly know it's no fun! I hope the pain you're having goes away soon!

When I write it's usually by candlelight. That being said, here's my light poem:

I love to write,
But when I do,
It's usually,
By candlelight,
For that's the only,
Light I use,
When at night.

If you'd like to stop by my site, just click on my name and perhaps I'll see you there.

Janie Junebug said...

I don't believe you're a wimp. Resting when you should is often thought of as wimpdon when it's wisdom.

jenny_o said...

Thank you, Lon! I'll be over to your blog in a bit. I'm intrigued that you write by candlelight. Is that by choice or of necessity? My eyes aren't good enough to do that!

jenny_o said...

I'm definitely a wimp. But you make a good point.

John M said...

The fall could have been much worse! I hope you feel better soon.

jenny_o said...

You're right! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

You're welcome Jenny.

One night years ago I lit a candle with a blank sheet of paper and pen in front of me and thoughts just came in which I put down on paper. Ever since then, I've loved writing this way. I find my mind clears and opens up more when I write at night or into the dark early morning hours. The soft glow of the flame seems to calm my mind in those quiet hours.

jenny_o said...

Intriguing ... and how wonderful to have a reliable way to calm your mind and help with the writing process!

Diane Henders said...

Loved your poem! Do not go gentle into that good light! (Dylan Thomas is rolling in his grave.) :-)

I hope your pain subsides soon - putting up with constant discomfort is NO FUN. Sending healing thoughts your way.

jenny_o said...

Thanks, Diane - I hope Mr. Thomas forgives us both :)