the lady in the corner
is missing a shoe
her face is obscured
her hands are too
yet her voice rings out clear
in a silent room
where the seats are all taken
though the mood is of doom
heavy and sad with a rallying call
it may have been farmyard
i’m not sure at all
it woke up the sleeping
it shook the half dead
that’s a cockerel’s greeting
somebody said
one after another the old
folks joined in
a few smiling faces at the
sound of the din
the whole room was filled
with the noise of a farm
so I joined in the chorus
what possible harm
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Comments18
Good write Cassie. Aww, why they shoot cockerels (or want to)? They wake people up in the morning or they will oversleep. lol.
No one is shooting cockerels Orchi. The old lady couldn’t speak, she had no other way of communicating to the others. There is no metaphor here, it is a real life situation. Hope that helps . Thank you for stopping by and gave a good Saturday.
Thanks C. I just branched off on a thought of real cockerels.
Oh Orchi, you can branch off as much as you like. I wasn’t telling you off for giving KP weeds instead of a bunch of flowers 🙂
Thanks C. With flowers, she says I am the thorn between two roses. lol.
Thank you Cassie for another enjoyable read
Many thanks Tobani, I’m pleased you enjoyed your visit here. Have a good day.
You are very welcome, You Too
Simply wonderful!
Thank you. There are some very touching moments when visiting the elderly dementia patients. That was the only way that old lady could communicate. It was a reaching out moment. I appreciate your visit and I am so pleased you enjoyed my efforts.
Another excellent share, Cassie! I was glad to see you post another one, my friend 🌹👏
Thank you Tristan and for the rose. Have a happy weekend.
Wow!! 😲
A powerful, poignant and
evocative poem indeed! 😢
Another grandslam poetess!🙏
Rock solid penning,
my pleasure to read!!
Best wishes 🍀🤗🌹🐦 Thad
Thank you Thad. Pleased you stopped by with a lovely review. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Cassie, what a beautiful portrayal of the rural life. I have lived some summers on a farm and enjoy the quiet and country life. I now live a good deal of time on what once was a farm and enjoy the solitude and singing of the birds. A most wonderful poem it brought back many memories.
Hello Soren, if this poem transported you to summers on a farm and rural life then I am happy that my words did that for you. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a nice comment. Very much appreciated.
As long as there are no signs of it being “Animal Farm” it is all harmless enough. Makes me wonder if I will ever be a resident myself. It isn’t really going to be too long now… mmm….
Animal Farm is too much like our politics at the moment in the UK sadly. I think we all ponder on whether we are likely to end up in a care home as we get older. Sadly when you visit, you see for yourself some very sad cases. This poor lady couldn’t speak, she could only make farm noises, but everyone joined in to make her feel at home. Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my efforts.
'her voice rings out clear' "Who's nicked my bleedin shoe?"
Chorus: 'Her shoe.. her shoe.. her shoe .....
Now I have a funny feeling that this piece, in all it's careful structure and rhythm had a higher purpose than that, Cassie..... You may put this down to a slightly disordered mind. I hope it prepares you to some extent for what you might encounter in the future.
Did enjoy the write really....
Hello Dave, when you visit residential homes and see some of the sad cases in there, especially if you are no spring chicken yourself, it does make you ponder on your own chances of ending up there. What is really sad is that most of the residents don’t get any visitors at all. I go to visit my aunt. Anyways, I thank you for stopping by and you did give me a smile 🙂
Having worked in Psych hospitals for quite a few years, I have a line in black humour which sometimes gets the better of me.... I confess I did have an inkling of its serious undertone. Take care, Cassie.
The black humour would certainly be an asset 🙂
You have a thing with your last lines so exactly defining the rest. Spent summers on my Aunt's farm, typical city boy, I felt bailing hay was an adventure, lost a bet about catching a chicken. The lady in the corner provides mystery though. Well Done.
Thank you Dan for stopping by. Pleased you remembered summers spent on your aunt’s farm. Lovely memories. The lady in the residential home, sat in the corner, can sadly only communicate with cockerel and farmyard sounds.
This is great fun. Certainly keeps you interested from the start to the finish. Wonderful
Thank you Dan. Good that we can all find humour in a sad situation. Black humour helps. A little incident I will remember.
Emotive words Cassie, my wife Joyce was in a Care Home at the end and I could see what you have described.
Andy
Dear Andy, you will be all too familiar with the day to day in a residential home. There can be very special touching moments as well as those which can be filled with humour. Thank you for stopping by to share.
And I suspect your voice was like having a welcome angel in that room. 🌹
Dear Teddy, I only visit. The angels are the ones who work there , caring for the needs of these dementia sufferers. They do an incredible job. Sad moments, but also some filled with humour. Thank you dear Teddy. 🌹🏴
Tremendous work.
Thank you so much Thomas. You are appreciated.
I love this piece, I could be wrong but I understand it as a lingering empty feeling, but a live to thrive And put yourself out there sensation. I really enjoyed the read
I am delighted you enjoyed the piece. Thank you very much for stopping by to say so. I appreciate your time.
A powerful write, Cassie. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for stopping by Tom. Good to see you. All the best.
well wrriten
i have visited some old age homes and can visualize the poignant picture you have painted so well. Very touching poem indeed
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