Andrea Dietrich Poet Etheree

Notes About The Poem

Based on a true story I am privy to. At the latest, the woman portrayed in this poem has good vital signs despite hardly eating a bite, but the visiting nurse says the time is nigh.

In the House of Death

In a house too huge for them to maintain,
a man hunched over with back pain lives
with a disabled daughter and
his very elderly wife.
A recent heart attack
has left her frailer
and meaner. The
doctor “says”
she will
die.

Not
willing
to get up
or walk for years,
she had atrophied.
Refusing sponge baths, meds,
or a private nurse, she screams
for her ill spouse whose little strength
does little good. Time is crawling on
the doomsday clock: two minutes to midnight.

Feb. 18, 2018 
For Emile Pinet's the doomsday clock: two minutes to midnight contest

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James Inman April 14, 2018 at 8:25 AM Nice to see an Etheree from you Andrea. I still have the Etheree Chapbook you sent me, thank you.

Jennifer Walker February 27, 2018 at 10:30 AM Wow, what a release of your thoughts of sadness. Knowing that this is your in-law's life makes it even sadder.

Freddie Robinson Jr. February 26, 2018 at 12:12 PM Powerful poetry, Andrea! Your soul pen reached into the deep inky darkness ... and came out of the abyss w/enlightened understanding. Brilliant and creative D-etheree. Love your work as always. Love and joy forever.

Constance La France February 22, 2018 at 7:20 PM Andrea, this is such a horrible thing and what makes it so sad is that it is true, this a winner to me, excellent !

Debbie Duncan February 21, 2018 at 8:25 PM Great write on a lonely subject. Reminds me of Delores Claiborne :)

Rhoda Tripp February 20, 2018 at 9:31 PM Thank you for sharing this talented write, and moreso, thank you for sharing. Good luck in the contest, Dear.

Janice Canerdy February 20, 2018 at 5:09 PM Great write, Andrea, about the type of person that is SO hard to love! Janice

Harry Horsman February 20, 2018 at 4:36 PM Does your imagination know no bounds? Yet why am i not surprised? Its always a joy to come here and read your poetry.

CayCay Godwin February 20, 2018 at 1:01 PM Wonder where the inspiration for this came from? Yikes, you captured them, yepper, you did. Good job of it, too. This is certainly unique and sure to stand out. It is so close to 'home' that I'm a bit muddled over what to say; it is a good poem and it is an original Andrea, just wish the darkness wasn't - well, wasn't. Love ... CayCay

Carole Duet February 19, 2018 at 6:49 PM A very sad write, Andrea, to which I'm sure many people can relate. GL in the contest.

Matthew Anish February 19, 2018 at 6:36 PM Nice hourglass shape and poem.Believe me I have not had a nice life - plenty of times I have been stricken with illness, I am glad I can sell some articles since they cut my hours at the college to one day a week! Training next Saturday. Hope you persevere with your poetry. Peace & Love Matthew Anish

Agnes Krampe February 19, 2018 at 5:44 PM That's a chilling write, Andrea, and the shape evokes an hourglass. brilliant!

Silent One February 19, 2018 at 3:54 PM Sands of time ticking away toward doom, excellent double etheree Andrea...

Alexis Y. February 19, 2018 at 9:55 AM Hi Andrea, First of I have to say you are so good at the "Etheree" form. Wow you tackled the "doomsday" subject very well in this well written piece. All of our days are numbered and you expressed that fact very well in this riveting piece. It's so sad to see It's based on a true story. I wish you the best of luck in the contest:-) Alexis

Richard Lamoureux February 19, 2018 at 8:08 AM All of us will one day come face to face with our mortality. You have given us a moment to pause with this effective sobering piece.

Cheryl Hoffman February 18, 2018 at 10:44 PM This is an awesome different take on the theme Andrea; unfortunately this probably happens to a lot of elderly couples…gulp…hope my husband and I aren't one of them in the future! Good luck in the contest!~Che :) PS Just read your comment above your poem and didn't realize this is based on a real family…how truly sad for them!~Che

Becca Teagan February 18, 2018 at 10:19 PM oh how sad! :( What a terrible way to live. Just heartbreaking. But an interesting take on the them. Hey, thanks for your comment on my last poem, I didn't realize he had reposted that poem. I still have it posted, but we wrote it together in July so it's further down on my list.

Laura Leiser February 18, 2018 at 8:41 PM Intriguing poem, Andrea! I liked the fact that this is also a shape poem and it looks like an hourglass of time! Enjoyed! GL in the contest :)

Line Gauthier February 18, 2018 at 8:29 PM How very witty, Andrea. Love your shape which adds to the inevitable. Marvelous take on the theme.

Vijay Pandit February 18, 2018 at 8:20 PM The story feels so real and sad..we all face that time eventually..well said Andrea. Best for a win.

Lewis Raynes February 18, 2018 at 8:07 PM this is such a sad write, with the end close, the marching of time, beautiful writing Andrea, good luck in the contest :)