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A List of How I Feel Kahlo Inside

There are at least two Fridas I think one might be me We both almost died Broken similarly Her spine collarbone ribs pelvis and a dislocated shoulder eleven fractures in her right leg her right foot crushed and dislocated abdomen and uterus by an iron handrail impaled My spine collarbone ribs pelvis and a dislocated shoulder my left femur in ten pieces my left ankle crushed my foot saved by steel toe boots and my abdomen saved by my saddle flattened 7/26/2019 Writing Challenge 3, July 2019 - List - Poetry Contest Sponsored by Dear Heart

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Eric Ashford

Date: 7/27/2019 2:32:00 PM

You are a survivor Maureen! Is it the bus accident of Frida Kahlo which you speak of? Strong poem, and it stands alone apart from its association with a contest. Well done.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 3:56:00 PM

It is. I accomplished my injuries on a bicycle hitting two cars ;) Thank you for that, I can't objectively see this one, it's too close. xomo

Jeanne Mcgee

Date: 7/27/2019 10:36:00 AM

You are right...you are a second Frida. The strength you both show through your struggle to come back from such an accident will always be with you. I am glad poetry found you or you it...you are an amazing poetess. This is a great list.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 1:30:00 PM

Tee hee ;) I'm hoping I don't upset any Frida fans with this one, I took some poetic license there. Thank you so much Jeanne! Hugs! xomo

Michael Coy

Date: 7/27/2019 9:29:00 AM

Hi, Maureen. This is uncanny. Frida's accident (and subsequent lack of medical care) was, in many ways, the defining event of her life. Your riding accident, traumatic in the extreme, mirrors hers symmetrically. You have done the right thing in repeating the verse-structure exactly. Excellent! Michael

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 1:21:00 PM

Thank you Michael! It really is freaky, and I was a huge fan of hers before my accident, I did not know the full details of her injuries until a few years ago; which blew my mind understandably. I don't know about reincarnation, but stardust... ;), xomo

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 7/27/2019 9:09:00 AM

What a horrible experience YET through it a character of steel was developed to cope with the steel implanted in you dearest, Maureen! You are an inspiration my dearest! Hugs xxx God bless you!

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 1:15:00 PM

I am of Chrome-Molly ;), thank you my dear, xomo!

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 7/27/2019 8:44:00 AM

Maureen Wow, I am full of admiration for you and marvel at your strength and perseverance - and not forgetting that you are one of the most respected, liked and popular poetess's on the soup - thank God you survived. Blessings always my dear friend Jennifer.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 8:49:00 AM

Wow back atcha Jennifer! I am humbled. Thank you so much. xomo <3

Silent One

Date: 7/27/2019 6:43:00 AM

Damn....

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 7:21:00 AM

I thought I had overcome this, till last year when I figured out I hadn't. But you can see why I thought I had. The brain is the only part of your body that does not tell you it is broken. x

Silent One
Date: 7/27/2019 7:08:00 AM

oh morphine, how i do not miss you..... im glad you overcame this and still going strong mo mo..

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:53:00 AM

Actually, the joke was, my roommate and I were heading home to do mushrooms before heading back out, instead I woke up a week later on morphine..."over achiever!" ;D,

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:49:00 AM

That's what I said, a week later ;), xomo! <3

Jeff Connelly

Date: 7/26/2019 10:56:00 PM

Awww Maureen. This poem is a true opening of yourself. I didn't know these things about you. You wrote about other things, but Maureen, to me, this brings happiness of your sadness expressed in your poetry. No wonder you are such a wonder woman poetess. Hugs Maureen.

Jeff Connelly
Date: 7/27/2019 10:41:00 PM

Maureen, just as Frida's art survived I am so happy that you did too; I would have never met you if you hadn't, and then I wouldn't be able to admire a poet such as you. Bless you Maureen.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 8:26:00 PM

and I forgot, I broke my hip too, but that wasn't on her list ;)

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:48:00 AM

For poetics sake I omitted the crushed lung and closed head wound ;)

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:34:00 AM

I didn't expect to write about this, but a "list" poem prompt, there is no other list in my life as (can't find the word) this one... it is my list. I was floored when I first read Frida's detailed list, break for break eerily similar. Crazy! And 23 years later I learn that my brain did not walk away from that one... D'oh! ;D, Thank you my friend, xomo

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/26/2019 5:07:00 PM

OMG! This list simply reduces me to tears. I'll let you know when I'm done crying...You are one brave woman, my hero. :) gw

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 8:51:00 AM

...entered in the "Impaled" contest too ;),

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:20:00 AM

My sweet G <3 It was my joie de vivre that got me through. Of course it was 23 years before I figured out that I had not actually walked away from that one unscathed. Hugs and love my friend, xomo

Tom Cunningham

Date: 7/26/2019 4:46:00 PM

Wow Maureen, you're lucky to be here. Good luck. Tom.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:16:00 AM

I AM! They loved me in the hospital, I was ecstatic to be alive. Thank you my friend, xomo!

Arturo Michael

Date: 7/26/2019 3:29:00 PM

Some similarities... both back from the dead...true miracles...this one

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 7/27/2019 6:13:00 AM

Eerily similar, I've seen a detailed list, break for break. If I didn't have no butt and compensated with a big cushy saddle, it was literally flattened, I'd have been wearing that seat post. The crank arm was through the frame, my steel toe dented. Hugs!!!! xomo