Archive for the ‘drainage’ Category
shelter »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
I awake. No, that’s the wrong word. I come to mid-wretch. I twist on the bench and face the cement below. It feels cold even without touching it. Strange, with the dark air warm, pushing against my skin.
There’s vomit there. Even in my near-zombie state, I quickly realize it’s mine. Or was it the cement’s? Possession can be so confusing. It stares up at me, laughing.
Turning over, onto my back, the sky is black beyond the sheet metal roof, through the glass of my cage. No, not a cage, a bus stop. Why am I at a bus stop? (more…)
medicinal »
Monday, May 11th, 2009
She walks past the desk, catching my attention. Her husband sits in a navy blazer over a vanilla sweater over a light-blue button-down and dark tie. Ordinarily strange but less so today.
Thirty seconds pass; I can’t turn away. He’s not dripping sweat? Added to the double amputee and the knitting woman in the ankle brace and adult diaper, his drawn-on, cartoon glasses border on normal.
He’s studying Hebrew, using a Byerly’s bag as a briefcase and wears blue-striped cotton pants. I’m drowning in odd. My insurance expires in days, forcing a halted, unwelcome and extensive medical tour. (more…)
warning »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
They offer suggestions, where to stay, to eat, to party. They recount their banal times there, ignoring my blank stare response. But they didn’t warn me.
Many rows back there’s a large group, yelling to each other between rows. One of them yells louder about her four dollar and fifty cent bag of snacks. This, apparently, is outrageous while standard for airport pricing.
To my right, a young couple looks to be doing homework. He’s dressed professionally with an inexpensive notebook computer. She’s skeletal, reading a textbook and looks frightened. (more…)
worse »
Friday, February 27th, 2009
He is there, still, amid the elaborate stitching, within the cold wooden cocoon. Black surrounds him, sorrow chokes the attendees and memories dart from one to the other like fish behind glass. It is like so many others, but different.
This is better than the last and the next. This was expected, prepared for and I can remain relatively unfazed. The last was sudden, untimely and shocking. The next will be equally foreseeable but I will not be distant. It will be worse. (more…)
kin »
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
One throbs with empathy. Her heart is heavier than her head, filled with thoughtful and caring. She feels more for strangers than I do for myself. She’s quick to trust, vulnerable where I’m shielded.
She prefers to understand before interjecting, letting conversation soak before responding. Dripping with self-doubt and she’s self-assured, intermittently, she’s fiery when put on the defensive.
Another pulses with social energy, witty and entertaining. She befriends easily, spritzed with shy. Able to discuss about anything with anyone, she is quick to ask and understand. (more…)