A life in pieces
Birth. Screaming. Washed. Suckling for the first time.
Tiny outfits. Small bathtub. Small bed. Small everything.
Colours. Sounds. Faces. Mum and Dad.
Tongue. Tastes. Hands grabbing. Legs kicking. All fours,
crawling.
Standing up. Cheering. Falling down. Laughter. Hugs.
Happiness. Safety.
Noises. Repeated. Repeated. Repeated.
Same noises. Copied, imitated. Mum happy. Dad proud.
Little plastic humans. Little plastic animals. Little
plastic everything. A miniature life.
Stuffed cartoon people. Stuffed cartoon animals. Stuffed
cartoon everything. A soft life.
“Stop!”, “Don’t!”, “Watch out!”. A safe life.
Uniforms. Desks. Boards.
Books. Pencils. Tests.
Education.
Parents. Teachers. Coaches.
Authority.
“Don’t!”, “Stop!”, “Watch out!”. A proper life.
Shouting. Crying. Sulking. Shouting. Banging. Screaming.
Sulking. Talking, talking, talking.
Confusion.
Heart quickening. Stomach twisting. Life brightening.
Heart breaking. Stomach retching. Life over.
Love.
Choose. Decide. Produce.
Make money. Make a family. Make up your mind.
Responsibility.
Confusion.
Married. Single. Tied. Free. Job. No job. Career. No career.
Confusion. Envy. Not happy.
Birth. Screaming. Tired. Holding your baby the first time.
Happiness, hope, the future.
Family. Responsibility.
Safety. Security.
Anxiety.
Blood pressure. Cholesterol. No salt.
Adulthood.
Counting. Waiting. Looking back.
Tired. Weak. Exhausted.
Tongue, not tasting. Hands, twisted. Legs not moving.
People gathering. Blanket pulled up. Crying
Gently. Being respectful.
Silence. Blackness. Space.
Seeing? Hearing? Sensing?
Here, or not? Gone, or not?
What is this?
