Forty one hours in accident and emergency.   a trilogy of musings

This is an amazing observation in a waiting room. Whether you're a doctor or patient doesn't matter; it's truth.

Thank you kindly, lady. your visit and thoughts are much appreciated.  

I've been meaning to drop over to your musings. been a little preoccupied

I hope you got out today and everything is okay.

I love these short snippets of thought, and I'm a fan of them myself. Hospitals are breeding grounds for observational gems such as these. It makes me wonder why people don't write about them more often.

The second snippet is my favourite. I mean, everybody is emotional in hospital when a loved one is hurting, but there's something particularly rough when it's a child that is sick. Prior to contrary belief, (most) women are amazing. Everybody else before themselves as illustrated here.

After 41 hours, I'm hoping you're back home, man. Really enjoyed this little write of yours. Take care of yourself. ☺️

I brought my notebook with me and took some notes, then put them together.   ...I might get out today, if not I think I might ask to be youth-anized  ...if they refuse then I'll just eat one of their dinners and die anyway     I think your right about hospitals, there is an incredible mix of personalities, emotions and senses fillers     and thank you most lots for your thoughts and visits.  much respect, lady  

Everything you write is staggering. . .Devlin.

Lady Devlin, I thought about trying to give you an example to prove you wrong. ...but couldn't find one

many thanks to you for swinging by and leaving your brain. print

Having spent waaay too much time in ER's myself (shudder) ,i must say that your trillogy truly delivers a very powerful punch to the psyche...directly, and vividly capturing the (intense) emotional essence that is the very heart of such places!

Your second,though, is the one that haunts my thoughts !!  That mother's one brief instance of struggling with her panic, vs. her inner-strength--her love, and need to protect her child--well, that touched soo deeply!

"...and a head-load of it's everyone else's fault."...this line is uniquely awesome....sooo spot on!

I admire your observational skill, and poetic presentation in this posting!

(Eamonn, i do hope that by now you have been released, and are beginning to recover!  Sending warm thoughts your way. Tabhair aire duit f `ein, mo Chara chotha`imid!!)

Enchanted one, your silver tongue would kill a werewolf at a thousand paces

much more went on in there. lives were changed

thanks most much for stopping by, lady. and for your thoughts which are always a pleasure to read

Eamonn you shine in everything you write but your observational poetry is brilliant.. having worked in a hospital you nailed with a tender heart what goes on.. seeing the emotional impact on the mommy with her child is so moving.. the fool flanked by the policemen something seen all to often.. the person needing assistance in and out of bed I too was hospitalized and witnessed this but couldn't put it to pen the way you have.. I didn't know you were ill I hope this finds you on the mend.. you are cared about.. with love Brenda

Brenda

I'm thinking I could have broadened the somewhat and veered away from the heart tugging verse, because as said somewhere above:  all three of the scenes happen every day in a hospital and were probably easy targets.

that said , I happen to like this poem.because I think it represents what I saw in a decent enough way

thanks for dropping by, lady

People watching, at times it can make one feel good about their own life...and why you ran away from society in the first place
seems most folks live in a drama filled ones -Cop stations, Hospitals and bars. ...I'll either slink in the shadows and blend with the walls or stay very far away.

I can always find worthwhile time among your posts Good Sir!!!

I hear your, Soul teaser

I think in the end its about how we conduct ourselves. I mean, there's not much chance of living outside society all the time.  ..as much as we may want to

delighted you're back in the catacombs of Du

and thanks for dropping by and leaving your words, good sir

Hullo, lady

I suppose it can all get a little overwhelming too. all the different journeys: highlights, lowlights, anger, frustration, ..and all the good which offsets such

thank you for your stopping by, leaving your foot print and message of sincerity

 very much obliged

Just to say

very much humbled by all your messages of good will and such

thank you all

The first one grabbed me and wouldn't let me go--I guess it's a matter of which experiences you've been closest to. Hospitals are tough man, it's a constant battle to find normalcy in a place so full of unnatural things. Best of luck to ya.

Mike, how the hell are you

I've only really had two stays in hospital my whole life. they've both occurred in the past three years

the guy who shuffles was there the last time too. different man, same kind of thing

thanks lots for your visit and words. very happy to see you


I hear good things about Alzheimer's medicine coming from the States soon

Oo you beautiful man.. this truly spoke
to my everyday womanliness..

Deep huggings for this.. to your heart.

hullo, lady     many thanks for your kind words, and for dropping by my humble scribes to read and leave your lovely thoughts

Bacon Triptych - ugly but truth - great write

Whale, good to see you

had to look up Bacon Triptych ( thought it was some kinda b.l.t )

thank you kindly for dropping by and leaving your thoughts, m'man

Dude, why're you in hospital? 😳

too cool for the general public, melody man  ..they tried, but couldn't take any of it away

it took me back lepp to a time i spent in ED...i like your musings... :)

hullo, lady

was wondering where you'd gotten to

thanks most much or dropping by and laying down your thoughts

"... to being a lioness" is a really, really cheesy line, and made me wince, I must admit. Otherwise, I do like this poem a lot. It's sharp and finely cut, a little realistic diamond peppered with strong images and human insights. As much as I dislike the lioness comparison, the description of the mother hiding her face in the back of her child's neck is absolutely perfect, and conveyed with real literary empathy.  

One suggestion: would "a skin-full of its everyone's fault" be more effective written like so: "a skin full of "it's everyone's fault!"? Separating the last three words as dialogue would make them more distinct and the image of the raving drunkard more powerful, I think. JMHO, of course. Thank you for the read, big guy. xxx

cheers man

your wince made me realize the cheese then made me wince. so we're both here wincing like a couple of sphincters. I'll have to change that. my thoughts were with lioness at the time cos of the ladies golden hair and the lioness' protect the cubs thing, but in fairness mothers of all species have that going on so I think it was an easy way out

I'll try the dialog and see how it works, I can't see it detracting from anything

much obliged for your visit and thoughts good fellow  *hat tip*

the fool staggered in :       
cuffed, and flanked by four policemen       
his trash talk       
brought on by a skin-full of alcohol         
and a head-load of      
    
"its everyone else's fault !"       
   
This one hit home. A recovering alchoholic, have been this patient.    
The "its everyone else" mantra mine when boozin. Then the next morning..the "it's all mine." my endulgence in remorse gave me an excuse to drink again  
.irony...i was too sad about my drunk behavior not to..  
   
Would like to know your reasoning for the spacing difference in the first musing? A quedtion, not criticism. Thpugh  
The empathy..understanding in the first was endearing. Think i found ypu that way last piece i read. Endearing, who knew?! Lol joshing you. I love poetry about stuff that could seem anything but poetic  
Salute Eamon  
.hope thats correct? Horrid memory.  
Would love you to read Their season on fire...or Marketa. You do such thoughgul reviews. Just at your leisure.    
Thanks sweetness..  
This was great doll face  
Much love and respect  
Jennifer

Cheers, Lady

the fool got seen to 'fore everyone else which generated a fair amount of frustration among the staff and patients. I can understand the thinking though 'get him seen to and get him out' ..I also understand both mantras

the spacing at the top was mostly because of the different thoughts involved, first lines dealt with what I was seeing then the next lines were what i was thinking. the ..but not me part at the end was a double afterthought about perception and book-covers. I didn't think he was crazy and would bet people didn't think I was crazy ...if only they knew

I think empathy helps a lot when jotting down observations. I wrote this on location so it was made that bit easier

thanks heaps and bushes for your visit and thoughts, lady

i think that hospitals are probably one of the few places in the world where the entire range of human emotion can be witnessed.

thank you for taking to the time to notice.

very well done.

hullo , and welcome to this place
yeah, no doubt about it. also I think its good there's a place where people of all classes can congregate and die  ..or get better

thank you for your visit and words, lady

enjoy your stay here

With all the music mashed into my head this reads like a combination of Led Zep's "Fool In The Rain", The Beatles' "Fool On The Hill", and Phil Collins' "Another Day In Paradise". Definately a critique of society!

Jazz,  sorry I missed this

Nice choice of musical accomp. I remember when the Phil Collins one was released. everyone and their mother was singing it up and down the country. good lyricist and singer , great drummer. ...not a huge fan of his acting

the Zep and the Bugs well different class of music altogether

thank you most kind for dropping by and leaving your thoughts, good fellow.

Luckily Phil never tried to be a one man film making machine, unlike McCartney. I will never forget rushing out to see "Give My Regards To Broadstreet" and then noticing next week it was gone from the movie house.

Yeah , I think maybe the movie industry thought they had another Clif Richard on their hands heh heh

I watched the John Lennon biopic ( I think it was called John )  ..great stuff,  though it was only made recent enough so had none of them in it

..also, speaking of movie biopics I think my favorite would be Sid and Nancy

I appreciate the way you think and this is no exception E.  
The more I read from you the more I realize how wonderful you are babes...

Wow I can't believe its been almost 4 years since we met and became friends already ")

it's not surprising you show your heart in this poem
as you are always someone who is willing to help those who really need it
Much enjoyed this thanks for sharing.....
Jackie xo

cheers, good lady

four years, jaysus, you'd get less for manslaughter 😎

ahh, well I'm a people person, its in my blood

thanks heaps for dropping by and leaving your thoughts, Jackie

Ive had this poem in my list for some time, it was nice to come back to revisit it again. I've grown to appreciate this style of restrained poetry in the time I've spent underground.  This poem is a great example of what some of us strive to achieve, to observe the subtle moments that are most often neglected and dismissed.  Brilliant stuff, Craic.

Case, good to see you

I watch people all the time, we (the people) can surprise, disgust, annoy and much more. the little things matter to me, and I try catch them as they happen in my Proximity

I have only the underground to thank for any style I have developed so I am indebted to all and everyone for it

I read a lot of the raw from the gut poetry, and I like it, I try it now n again but most times its fit for the trash can so I tend to stick with what I'm OK at for the most part

thanks for  your presence and words, Case

much appreciated

Ahhh, Craic, luv ~ :-*

You have a gift for conveying meaning in the absence of statement. You build an atmosphere and meaning is redolent within it. Tis a skill and a gift together intertwined. :-*

You manage to convey the heavy onerousness of the wait without ever really referencing it, save rather sideways and fleetingly in the title; but, as that refers to the whole experience rather than the interminable wait for many (most, I daresay) in A&E or ED or the ER, I say this skill you have is impressive indeed, luv.

Your poetry contains meaning within the words and phrases and betwixt in the spaces, man... :-*

Hullo  
 
full-pologies for the delay of reply here, lady. I keep missing stuff  
 
that particular evening was very busy. it was like a very slow conveyor belt. the further up the line of trollies in the  corridor you were was representative of how sick you were.  it all felt very war-time. the guy in front of me was healthy enough, the doctors were left wondering if he was sick at all. turned out all he needed was a quick burst of a million volts thrust through his chest  
 
 
point being, ( to qualify the point properly I'd ask you to forget the previous paragraph altogether ) I was about halfway up the corridor so considered myself in safe enough condition to try take everything in  
 
a matter of looking, but not staring. seeking out moments, knowing when to look at the ground, when to walk ( don't want to spoil someone's last words thing because he has to change it to " who the fuck is that cunt who keeps looking at us" ) ..so discretion is always advised. futures can be changed  
 
 
sometimes meanings can be steered with the most subtle of changes, it can be a worthwhile endeavour, more so in short ones maybe  
 
belated thanks for your presence and words, lady. I hope you're well

People watching is interesting. Enjoyed this.

Hullo

agreed, many moments can pass right before the eyes. hospitals are like the Mecca for moments

thanks for dropping by, good fellow

Incredibly evocative writing, lepp... Very interesting observational poem. Shows your capacity for compassion ❤️