White Plaster Options

[Aphrodite]

You lie there, solid and firm,  
as onlookers gawk and comment  
on how good you turned out.  
 
“They did such a good job,” it is said,    
like white plaster thrown on hard walls,  
you just take it.  
 
How you love to hold hands, but not your own,  
the Rosary Beads  d r a p e   loosely cross  
spindly fingers, like drops from tears cried dry.  
 
In the bed you made, you lie cold,  
a hard box unlike the downy soft  
mattress you once fell into.  
 
In your bed, you lie ravaged from the  
poison of nicotine’s revenge.  
 
Oh, but for just one more breath of clean air.  
©Linda Balboni 2005

[Aphrodite]

Dear Lindi,

This hit so close to home for one thing. My dad passed away because of smoking... though his passing was sudden and we all thought he was healthy. Turns out, weeks before is heartattack he had seen a doctor in Germany who warned him about how weak his heart was and that he should stop smoking. He never breathed a word to any of us and just like that.... we lost him...

I particularly loved this part

How you love to hold hands, but not your own,  
the Rosary Beads  d r a p e   loosely cross  
spindly fingers, like drops from tears cried dry.  

The last line was incredible.

Beautiful read:

Hugs
Dani

PS: Jina sends her love to Briana...

Hello Dani~

My goodness it has been far too long! Thank you for your sensitive and heartfelt response. As you and I know, our anguish over losing our special Dads, brought us together. I knew that you would "feel" this one.

Even now, almost five years later, the little girl in me weeps ongoing. There is no true closure, is there? :(

Still, I felt compelled to write this.

Please, say hello to Jina for Briana, and let's catch-up soon!

In finding you well~
Lindi