Sunday, July 17, 2011

It's the cost we're thinking about

***

I think we need a new ladder

hear that rattle, I think
something is loose,
a screw

     that needs tightening
     get the screwdriver
     out of the toolbox

under the leaky
kitchen sink?

     not rusted, is it?

the screw or the
screwdriver?

     it's just a screw
     -- see it

remember the stool
you said you could fix?
just a nail, you said

     and a weak leg,
     don't forget it
     was the leg that broke

when grandma sat,
grandma broke
her hip

     and there, see
     feel it, it's done
     screwed tight
     no more rattling
     not even a creak
     step on it, try

not using it
and not arguing
getting a new one
over a screw.


(Inspired by HVP's photo "Broken Ladder")

Submitted for Poetry Potluck Monday Week 44

21 comments:

marit said...

this is so great. i'm so glad i got to find your blog through the poetry potluck. thanks for this!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

the way you proceed and deliver your message is brilliant,
agreed, well done piece.

Happy Potluck.

Daydreamer said...

This is so true to life, we put off doing things and then when we really need something fixing, someone can get hurt.
Soul Speak

Reflections said...

Love this piece... so typical, but those repairs we make seem so logical until that weak leg shines through.

So glad you stopped by my place. I am fascinated by your words... will be following along.

Shashidhar Sharma said...

Interesting post... I liked the way you have created this one...

ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/07/whispers-memories-to-live-by.html

PhotoDiction said...

How typical. My wife would tell you that I treat the jobs around the house the same way :)

Ravenblack said...

Marit, Jingle, Daydreamertoo, Reflections and Shashi, PhotoDiction, thanks for taking the time to read my poem and for commenting.

PhotoDiction: :D

Anonymous said...

Brillian, I loved it :)

Anonymous said...

I love the conversational tone while remaining in poetic rhythm. I've always liked ladders and I like this poem too.

Anonymous said...

cute. enjoyed it

Anonymous said...

Getting jobs done is not easy and that applies to so many circumstances of life... Really nice!

Anonymous said...

:) This made me smile. I think many people can relate to this kind of thing - very nice slice of life piece!

Ravenblack said...

Jeanie, wordpowersound, lunawitch, seabell and dragonkatet, thank you for your wonderful comments, really appreciate it. :)

Anonymous said...

So true, I have to say I am guilty of putting something off till it's reached critical proportions. Wonderful poem

Ravenblack said...

Thank you, mindlovemisery.

dsnake1 said...

:D

i like the conversational tone of this work.
very appropriate , for a mundane piece of job like, fixing a ladder? :)

enjoyed the read., thanks!

Ravenblack said...

Thanks coming by, dsnake. I find lately that I'm better off writing about the mundane, beautiful things are already well spoken for or already speak for themselves. Feels like I can't match them or do them over better in words.

Anonymous said...

Love the conversational tone of this and the link to the screw in grandma's hip. Your poetry is great. How can I subscribe to your blog?

Ravenblack said...

wordcoaster: I just added a subscription tab on the right sidebar. I thought there was one at the bottom of the page but I'm not exactly sure if that is it. Thanks for the interest. :)

Anonymous said...

I like this one of yours. It's like, darned if we don't do the same thing over and over again, and it gets us to the same place over and over again!

Brilliant metaphor with fixing hardware in poetic form.
Very cool.

Ravenblack said...

Thanks Cindy. :)