deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Temporary Safety of an Adirondack Chair
small California airports
have sunny courtyards
this one has a beer kiosk
not much interest to me
but great interest
to the woman in the adirondack chair
next to me
could i watch her suitcase while she gets another beer?
sure
i should't she giggles
i manage a weak smile
a why not shrug
adding that drinking and flying
is not a problem
as long as one isn't the pilot
when she returns
she wants to chat
asks if I'm from San Luis Obispo or Phoenix
she lives in Phoenix too
been there six months
tells me the suburb
perhaps based on her suburb
or her affect in general
i decide she's a Trump fanatic
an anti masker too
maybe even coughed on someone
during the pandemic
i like the tilt of the adirondack chairs we're sitting in
angled backwards
no tears fall out
every time I visit mom
her memory is worse
she thinks my sister
whom she hadn't seen in four years
is my friend
but she knows me
not where i live
not very often what i do
but she knows my nature
she knows me
an hour or so ago
she'd said i love you so much
in emotional italics
as sincere an I love you
as has ever existed
an Akashic Records I love you
a fact
Trump woman keeps talking
something about young grandchildren she chases after
i manage another weak smile
tilt my head back further
i'm a pitcher
unless i lean forward
tears won't pour
what does this woman want from me?
is she just looking to kill time?
since i'm in her approximate age range
or maybe because she's somewhat new to Phoenix
does she want to be my friend?
I ask her about which city she likes better
we talk a bit about Phoenix
i decide more things about her
she's had at least one DUI
uses apostrophes to form plurals
thinks bread is only white or wheat
possibly racist or antisemitic
thinks pranks that hurt people are funny
how many more trips left to see my mom
how many where she'll still be able to know me
how long will it be until I'm flying out
one last time
i get up and walk into the terminal
it's for the best
or the perfectly nice woman chatting with me
will become someone
who tortures cats
have sunny courtyards
this one has a beer kiosk
not much interest to me
but great interest
to the woman in the adirondack chair
next to me
could i watch her suitcase while she gets another beer?
sure
i should't she giggles
i manage a weak smile
a why not shrug
adding that drinking and flying
is not a problem
as long as one isn't the pilot
when she returns
she wants to chat
asks if I'm from San Luis Obispo or Phoenix
she lives in Phoenix too
been there six months
tells me the suburb
perhaps based on her suburb
or her affect in general
i decide she's a Trump fanatic
an anti masker too
maybe even coughed on someone
during the pandemic
i like the tilt of the adirondack chairs we're sitting in
angled backwards
no tears fall out
every time I visit mom
her memory is worse
she thinks my sister
whom she hadn't seen in four years
is my friend
but she knows me
not where i live
not very often what i do
but she knows my nature
she knows me
an hour or so ago
she'd said i love you so much
in emotional italics
as sincere an I love you
as has ever existed
an Akashic Records I love you
a fact
Trump woman keeps talking
something about young grandchildren she chases after
i manage another weak smile
tilt my head back further
i'm a pitcher
unless i lean forward
tears won't pour
what does this woman want from me?
is she just looking to kill time?
since i'm in her approximate age range
or maybe because she's somewhat new to Phoenix
does she want to be my friend?
I ask her about which city she likes better
we talk a bit about Phoenix
i decide more things about her
she's had at least one DUI
uses apostrophes to form plurals
thinks bread is only white or wheat
possibly racist or antisemitic
thinks pranks that hurt people are funny
how many more trips left to see my mom
how many where she'll still be able to know me
how long will it be until I'm flying out
one last time
i get up and walk into the terminal
it's for the best
or the perfectly nice woman chatting with me
will become someone
who tortures cats
Published 20th Apr 2023
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 5
reading list entries 1
comments 9
reads 306
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
20th Apr 2023 2:44pm
I like the meanderings of the mind. PS: GOP pretty much equals NAZIS, Very scary for the futur of the USA
23rd Apr 2023 6:19pm
Anonymous
- Edited 26th Aug 2023 5:45pm
20th Apr 2023 2:44pm
<< post removed >>
20th Apr 2023 3:01pm
20th Apr 2023 5:44pm
I love the title, first off and the overall mien of the piece, and of your writing, which has a sense of honesty and openness that is engaging. The emotion is subtle, bleeding through the descriptions and address, which causes you to lean in and want to feel it. I think the whole is composed of each intimate detail and is wonderful to experience. Check out Epitaph by Rianne.
23rd Apr 2023 4:21pm
23rd Apr 2023 4:45pm
23rd Apr 2023 5:18pm
How is this so beautiful, even as you (subconsciously?) write it trying to suppress the beauty of it?
The "pitcher", that is very cool.
I was there when my mother in law "faded". I dealt with it very well. I understood it. Whereas my ex was brutal, because of frustration. Seemingly brow-beating her mother, trying to get her to recall. I was like "why?".
We suppress our sadness and loss, for the sake of them smiling through their version of reality. Some days I was her actual son, her ex, her brother, a stranger invading the house, a doctor to take her away, etc.
I played whatever role was appropriate. All that mattered was calm. Keep it so.
Your write is intricate, poignant, and perfect. You descriptive result built the perfect scenario to place us there.
A wonderful write, Pink. Truly.
The "pitcher", that is very cool.
I was there when my mother in law "faded". I dealt with it very well. I understood it. Whereas my ex was brutal, because of frustration. Seemingly brow-beating her mother, trying to get her to recall. I was like "why?".
We suppress our sadness and loss, for the sake of them smiling through their version of reality. Some days I was her actual son, her ex, her brother, a stranger invading the house, a doctor to take her away, etc.
I played whatever role was appropriate. All that mattered was calm. Keep it so.
Your write is intricate, poignant, and perfect. You descriptive result built the perfect scenario to place us there.
A wonderful write, Pink. Truly.
23rd Apr 2023 6:11pm
Great to hear from you Styx.
I'm in a very easy, intuitive place with interacting with my mom. I make her smile and laugh a lot and enjoy her company as much as she enjoys mine. I'm extremely fortunate in that her parter is still very sharp and has full mobility at 85. They adore each other.
Thanks for applying your keen insights to this latest rambling of mine. Everytime you post a new poem, I immediately click on it and am always stunned by your talent. I have 19 and a half days left in the school year. Looking forward to having time to comment more.
I'm in a very easy, intuitive place with interacting with my mom. I make her smile and laugh a lot and enjoy her company as much as she enjoys mine. I'm extremely fortunate in that her parter is still very sharp and has full mobility at 85. They adore each other.
Thanks for applying your keen insights to this latest rambling of mine. Everytime you post a new poem, I immediately click on it and am always stunned by your talent. I have 19 and a half days left in the school year. Looking forward to having time to comment more.
