Darren White Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

Bouncing Ball - Mental Hospital 2

A new day, a new exercise, a new function. Yesterday they said I resemble a bouncing ball, today I am, skimming and skipping. All round and affectionately kickable.

Somehow I have always known I am one. After all one doesn't become a ball overnight. It's a slow process. To start with, you pull your knees up, real close to your chest, and you start practicing. The walls however weren't very co-operative. They complained that my form was not completely round, some thing walls hate. A wall doesn't like objects with an edge, that's hurtful, it can bruise.

Therefore, my next mission, was to curve my spine so that my chin touched my breast bone. But still the walls complained, this time telling me that with my flailing twitching arms, I resembled an M&M from the TV commercial. That was a hateful remark, because these things look ridiculously unlike me. My globule-like ball will be the most huggable and innocent ball you've ever seen.

With a little torch I modified my arms in such a way that they neatly folded around myself, and finally I had become the perfectly round form the whole world already knew that I was.

Today I am your bouncing ball. The men in white clothes with their syringes and multi-coloured pills, have said so. The men honour me by kicking me around, and the walls finally stopped complaining. I am ricocheting and rebounding whilst I rejoice.

Everyone is happy now.

***

May 2, 2017 
Copyright © Darren White

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Maria Williams May 4, 2017 at 8:02 AM Well I love the fact that the tide has turned , turning you back into the resilient little tough ball that you are. A lion remember? Brilliant, though it does make me a little sad my dear friend. A 7++ Darren White May 4, 2017 at 8:11 AM It's satire, yes, meant to make you feel a little sad, but also to make you laugh my friend :) Thank you for the 7!

Lisa Ricci May 3, 2017 at 5:32 AM he he he - thanks for the invitation - I gladly accept the red ball - ready get set go..... You're amazing Darren Darren White May 4, 2017 at 8:10 AM Here, catch yours :)

Lisa Ricci May 3, 2017 at 5:19 AM Good Morning Darren. This is brilliant. I enjoyed the thought of the bouncing balls. A physical therapist once told me to sit on the big ball and balance. I told her to (lol) but true. So she did and we bounced and balanced together. This is marvelously expressed and as I said brilliant. Have a wonderful afternoon. Well done completely and entirely. PS always is it a process..... Darren White May 3, 2017 at 5:22 AM It is a process Lisa, always is. Come here sit with me, I am a blue ball, you a red one, now BOUNCE ;)

Solomon Ochwo-Oburu May 3, 2017 at 4:08 AM A very good satire! Thanks Darren Darren White May 3, 2017 at 4:36 AM Thank you Solomon :)

Doug Vinson May 2, 2017 at 7:20 PM Darren, I think Emile has it right - the absurdity of life comes in. What we think of life and our world, along with our place in it - is so very important - I'd say most of the foundations of sanity or otherwise reside there. Take the most sane person in the world - according to a consensus among us all - and I figure it'd be pretty boring. I don't know to what extent the relative insanity among the rest of us is coping mechanism or real nuttiness, and that's not all I don't know. Cheers! Darren White May 3, 2017 at 12:52 AM Absolutely. Strange enough a bit of insanity leads to wonderful creativity, and it appeals to me. As if my own insanity drives me to people who are also a little bit off-balance. Not on purpose, it just happens. Good we don't know what's behind it, let it be a mystery :)

Anne-Marie Coreggia May 2, 2017 at 6:51 PM Darren, my friend, I admire your resilience and your sense of humor, but above all your indomitable creative spirit . . . there is simply no wall that can stop you, master shape-shifter:) Amitiés Darren White May 3, 2017 at 12:50 AM Haha, Anne-Marie, I had to laugh at that comment, so creative! Thank you, also for liking this poem of mine.

Elle Kilma May 2, 2017 at 2:32 PM To me, this shows your flexibility to all situations. It's amazing. And "Everyone is happy now." I am glad you're happy, sadeeky. Once again, sha'ir gameel gedan :-) Darren White May 2, 2017 at 2:37 PM Shukran jiddan, sadiqaty. I am glad you like the little story :)

Elle Kilma May 2, 2017 at 2:28 PM To me, this shows your flexibility to all situations. It's amazing. And "Everyone is happy now." I am glad you're happy, sadeeky. Once again, sha'ir gameel gedan :-)

Emile Pinet May 2, 2017 at 2:28 PM A well written engrossing poem filled with pain and the absurdity of life. This is a telling story that allows you a window into your own fears and reactions to life as it is dealt to you. It flows well and holds your interest from start to finish. It tantalizes us with shocking imagery to seduce us with the nectar of poetic creativity. You have a way in telling a story like this that deals in the unmasking of your own demons. Well done. Emile. #7 Darren White May 2, 2017 at 2:39 PM Absolutely, and you understand this one very well Emile. And it does indeed both. Create an absurd story, and dealing with my personal demons, Thank you so much for your comment :)

Kabutha Paul Hempstone May 2, 2017 at 11:27 AM This is exactly what I've been looking for.An inspiration.Now i got it.Thanks a lot for this. Darren White May 2, 2017 at 11:29 AM Thank you so very much, that makes me smile broadly :)

Tim Smith May 2, 2017 at 11:03 AM It's funny I just started doing exercises on big blue ball...they gave one to bring home 65cm...maybe it's you...love the analogy Darren White May 2, 2017 at 11:21 AM Hahaha, thanks for that image, although I'd love to be blue, 65cm, and at your home :D

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart May 2, 2017 at 10:59 AM I can't find the right odd face emoticon for how this made me feel, and it is a wordless face, open and scrunched. I have not words other than a seven Darren. Darren White May 2, 2017 at 11:22 AM I hope it was a positive odd face, ma mo, merci beaucoup!

Chris Green May 2, 2017 at 10:50 AM Sounds like someone is having a ball over there but being kicked around...that does not make me happy. I love the line about the walls and what they don't like, that was so creative. Maybe you should try to shape yourself like a football...American football because when the team has that ball, they would prefer to never let go of it. Though I guess it does get kicked every once in a while too. Oh well, how about a disco mirror ball, then you can reflect your light on everyone. :) Darren White May 2, 2017 at 10:58 AM You're incredibly creative what balls are concerned. I might write a sequel now about a disco ball (mirror ball) :) Thanks, my friend.