Third Place Winner, November 2006 InterBoard Poetry Competition

Poetry

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Poetry

InterBoard Poetry Competition

Third Place Winner, November 2006

NOT SAYING IT *Linda Cash* (Poets.org) A. Of, at, relating to, or forming a limit, boundary, extremity, or end. Botany: Growing or appearing at the end of a stem, branch, stalk, or similar part. Coffee in plastic cups has an air of despair about it. Tea even worse. The walk back from the machine down the corridor was endless. The doctor seems efficient, if a little weary. Maybe he’s got it completely wrong. Maybe he’s got the wrong file. It happens. B. Electricity. A position in a circuit or device at which a connection is normally established or broken The fridge still makes the same sound. Its existence seems pointless. What’s the use of food now? Why would anyone want the rough pate and the soft cheese, all the way from Lille, hidden in the fridge’s belly? It won’t do any good. What’s the future of that bottle of Moet? C. An ornamental figure or object placed at the end of a larger structure; a finial. The ring symbolising eternity was a good concept, but unworkable, on this planet, anyway. “Please can we have a ring symbolizing 6 to 8 months??” D. A passive conductor at such a position used to facilitate the connection. We’ll have to make an appointment about Pain Management, it’s a different department. There’s no need to talk to the surgeon, there’s nothing he can do. E. A town at the end of a transportation line. I pass someone in the street, a neighbour, we say good morning. And I’m thinking he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know. But I know everything has changed. Even the way I put on my socks tomorrow, will be different. F. A device, often equipped with a keyboard and a video display, through which data or information can be entered or displayed. Hey, you’re one in 10,000, girl. I always knew you were special. Apparently the ‘median’ is 6 months. So the doctor was being on the generous side. He could still be wrong. (Please.) G. Of, relating to, occurring at, or being the end of a section or series; final. Causing, ending in, or approaching death; fatal. Christmas is new landmark for us. It will either be our last together, or my first alone. Pain management, either way. We have to make ourselves think about these things. Does one send cards? Shall we do it ahead, just in case? Judge David Kirby’s comments: “This poem is both completely crazy and utterly sane at one and the same time, which is the highest praise one might confer on any human creation. For if you’re not crazy, then you’re not looking life squarely in the eye, and if you’re not sane, then God help you, because no one else will. The subject is loss and how we handle it; the tension is almost unbearable, and that makes us want to bear it forever.”


About the InterBoard Poetry Competition Archive of IBPC Winners Honorable Mentions, November 2006