I spent the night in the hospital last night while they ran all kinds of tests and suspected I was having a heart attack. I kept mulling the topic of the day, wondering what I should or could write about. My pain level when I arrived was at a high end 8, low 9. In other words, I couldn’t breathe to keep it in control, so my blood pressure went over the top. It occurred to me as I sat in the waiting room sure doom would arrive, I could just write about what I was dealing with at that moment. Pen in hand, I wrote the following poem.
NaPoWriMo
Blood Brothers
The pain can only ease
if I am writing poetry
ink to paper thin
dripping words from within
using black and blue bruises
of Bic Crystal pens (my favorites)
The words tick-tock my memories
so I can live again
bloom within
shed my skin
lose to win–
–dows to the sleepless soul
with shades drawn against
the surprise war of the worlds
(Maybe we should toss confetti).
I fill the pages slowly with dragging foot
while my guts glow
radioactive
so attractive
I catch the eyes of ritzy doctors
worshiped nurses
wheelchair parking
and abandoned purses.
I use these words
to forgiv(e)ncourage me
for everything I couldn’t/wouldn’t be
Every day I was too blind to see
That pain can only ease
only ease
if I am writing poetry
Mare Martell 
A painful inspiration, but you did so much with it. Well written.
Thank you!
I hope you’re okay! That’s scary to be going through that. Your poem is so fitting for the situation. Sometimes poetry is our prescribed medicine.
I liked the small touches of whimsy in this work. It felt like they were thumbing their noses at the pain and cheering the process that keeps you writing
Glad to hear you are ok, mightily impressed you could use your pen and words when you were feeling so bad to keep yourself calm. Catching the little oddities of a hospital waiting area in your words.
Thank you!
Wow! I’m glad your alright. By the way, it is most impressive you could channel your frame of mind to your pen.
Seriously it was write or hurt and I did feel better after writing that.
The power of your words. Amazing.
You’re so kind with your words. I see entire lives born from your two sentence stories. I’d say, you do the same thing I do, only succinctly.
You are far too kind Mare, but Thank You.
So glad you are ok. As I read the words, I felt you in the hospital. How you become so intent on just getting the breath back! Great piece, just hope you don’t have to go through that sort of inspiration again!
I really do, and yes I know it sounds trite, find inspiration everywhere. I keep random collected papers on me with phrases and sentences which then turn into scenarios, emotions, essays, and articles. It helps a lot.
Interesting perspective you encountered! I am so happy you will be ok! Love you, Mom
“Love as God loves and live as Jesus lived” Rev. Tim TenClay
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Oh my! Are you alright? What was the outcome? I love the pictures you paint with your words but so sorry you had to go through the pain to arrive at the poem.
I am okay. When I went there, I told them my shoulder and arm hurt. They diddled and decided to make sure I am okay. 12 hours later, I’m home, exhausted, but glad it wasn’t a heart attack but shoulder pain (Think I pulled a tendon)