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Changed Days Indeed

The china teacup chatters unevenly against the saucer
As if seeking rescue from her tremulous fingers.
Aristocratic as ever, though gossamer thin now,
Her startling blue eyes still serve to divert the unwary
From discerning the spitefulness harbored beyond.

One caustic glance and I hurtle back three decades
To a time of white knuckles clutching a scarred desk,
My small frame attempting to concertina itself into invisibility
While offering skyward fervent soundless prayers…
Lord, oh Lord, please don’t let me be called upon today.

It’s doubtful that many remember when she was judge
And jury to all who passed through her domain.
White chalk gave voice in exquisitely crafted longhand
To an unfaltering belief in her superior command
Of both language and frightened children.

I wince inwardly at the memory of my parent’s crushed faces,
As my cheeks maddeningly flush scarlet with shame.
She had pronounced sentence upon me, and
It was all the more scathing in its casual delivery.
I was the ‘girl that would never amount to much’.

I relieve her gradually of the dancing teacup.
Placing the cold steel against her wheezing chest,
To my ears the gasps of shock are more like a final breath.
White knuckled with resistance, she contorts her wizened body defiantly.

Thrashing in a cloud of linen and lavender scent,
She prays wide-eyed to God that she will not be called upon today.
Changed days indeed, I murmur to myself…

And yet despite my white coat and stethoscope,
In her rheumy eyes I still am,
And always will be
The girl that would never amount to much.

By Kay Elizabeth

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on September 19, 2009 at 10:19pm

Oh my gosh! You're awesome! You should get that copy righted so no one can steel it of the site and take it for themselves. You really have a talent. Everyone says that I do too. Give me a subject and I'll write a poem for you!

Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on September 21, 2009 at 7:01am

Thanks Callie! I don't worry too much about copyright. Once you've written it down, it's considered copyrighted. You don't even need the © symbol. You might find this interesting: 10 Big Myths about copyright explained.

I'd like to see your writing! Why not share something you've already done with us? Show us your favorite. :) I'm going to post a poetry game soon, so watch out for that too in here. That can be the subject you can write about if you want.

Callie Leah Dewees said:

Oh my gosh! You're awesome! You should get that copy righted so no one can steel it of the site and take it for themselves. You really have a talent. Everyone says that I do too. Give me a subject and I'll write a poem for you!

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on September 30, 2009 at 2:24am

wow! you never told me you wrote poetry! this is amazing!! I love all of it, but particularly the first two stanzas...the language you use is breathtaking! I hope to see more poetry from you kay! :-)

Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on July 31, 2011 at 6:02am

Cheryl, I have more on my blog right here at Authors.com. :) http://www.authors.com/profiles/blog/list?user=3j148u71dr9cw

I think this is my very favorite one I've written. :D Hope we see you much more often, Cheryl! I miss catching up with you.

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