In other people’s hands

We’re forced to place the ones we love

in other people’s hands; we swear

we love with our languid smile

on lips drawn thin by telling haste.

A fat-faced, name-tagged enigma

led you away to join others

for the help and time we can’t give.

You went away clutching your purse,

soon to be taken from your hands,

held for safety reasons…. like you;

held safe with all your delusions,

memories, visions, conspiracies….

and those demons that set that fire;

those tiny gelatinous creatures

that taunted you from your closet

forcing you to toss a flaming

match in…. to send them back to hell.

Comments

5 responses to “In other people’s hands”

  1. Jeremy Nathan Marks Avatar
    Jeremy Nathan Marks

    Reblogged this on The Sand County and commented:
    A simply beautiful poem.

  2. Jeremy Nathan Marks Avatar
    Jeremy Nathan Marks

    This played out in front of me like a moving picture. I want to reblog this.

    Right now I am watching my own father deal with some of what you are describing here. And I have seen my mother try and handle this as well.

    I really appreciate how deeply your compassion runs here.

    1. Leo Avatar

      Thank you for reblogging. I’m sure their are many more folks dealing with similar situations. Sometimes the best thing to do is the most difficult. Leo

  3. Susan L Daniels Avatar

    Oh, God, Leo. I had to do this with my mother, and felt like the world’s biggest shit for having to. Well said.

    1. Leo Avatar

      Thanks for reading, Susan. It was also my mom who inspired this poem…(inspired is probably not the best word choice). I’m glad its written and things are much better now!

Love to have a comment!