Disability Arts Online

Difficult choice. Digital image

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This poem was inspired by the picture on the right.

The picture was inspired by a recent DaDaFest poetry event where I experienced problems processing the performance, because of the large screen that showed very powerful images, against an accompaniment of classical music.

At one point I had to close my eyes so that I could hear the poems.

This might have concerned me less had I not been asked to write a review of the performance. Sitting down to write the review, I was faced with a near-blank recollection of the poetry.

I’m not claiming to be any kind of genius, but the reason for my problem, I think, is that my right and left brains are well-connected. That is, I do words and pictures equally.

However, the whole left and right brain thing turns out to be rubbish.

But politics is a right-left issue that is still fairly current. Or is it?

Here’s the poem.

Choose right or left

 

Overkill is expected

when two entities

that are separate yet

well-connected

are made to choose

 

between opposites

that are otherwise

equal in all respects

 

estrangement

from silence

is upsetting

 

I miss her

in spring

when the morning

wind nibbles my earlobes

and puffs at my lashes

 

my tastebuds

and fingernails gasp

at the clouds

above and beyond

life's fleeting horizon

 

the mind is one world in

a two-handed hold on

words that demand a

deep understanding to

know it's true meaning

 

meanwhile

the eye delights

and sighs

at the night time sights

the heart supplies

 

that sign

on the right

looks inviting

 

it might

be salvation

beckoning

from behind the glow in

that bright green greeting