No Sweet Old Lady

After a childhood of moaning 
and feigned fainting 
and suicide attempts in my presence—
it’s hard to know 
whether the call in the night 
saying she is going to call an ambulance 
is serious or not.  

Personally, I can’t imagine 
calling 911 for the runs
but my mother did.  
When the paramedics arrived 
they told her to stay home;
emergency would only make her  sick 
waiting upright for hours in a chair, 
an IV jammed in her arm.

And now she’s on speaking terms with me again
which means the calls will start 
the ones pleading and demanding 
alternating 
on who knows what whim.  

She’s eighty and no sweet old lady.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011



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Date: 11/1/2011 11:35:00 AM
Take it from me, when you reach 80 there are lots of pains and worries - I'm 82 - but I can sympathize. Congrats on the selection. LOve, daver
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Date: 11/1/2011 11:19:00 AM
Hmmmm Been there and done thayt. My mom seems to feed on sympathy. She is 87 and fought old age tooth and nail and wouldn't admit her true age until she was old enough to draw social security. Would get mad if anyone told on her. I just say she still has her canoe but she lost her paddle a long time ago. Getting mad won't change anything. Just feel sorry for her and let it run it's course. It will anyway. A fine write my friend. God Bless, JB
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Date: 10/31/2011 12:49:00 PM
Congratulations on your well deserving poetry being featured this week Soulfire. Love, Carol
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Date: 5/3/2011 12:40:00 PM
i have enjoyed this write today, nicely done. cory
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Date: 4/13/2011 8:19:00 AM
Hi Soulfire! She sounds like a very lonely woman. The elderly lose their friends, and lose touch with the needs of others. I don't think it's malice...like children they might seek comfort and attention. Still not always easy! Best to you and yours, Mikki
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Date: 4/10/2011 10:00:00 AM
cont. - I rarely leave comments so long I have to continue. Your poem really moved me. Elderly people often need more attention. This is so sad. Compelling story behind this poem. Best wishes, Carolyn
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Date: 4/10/2011 9:53:00 AM
Hi Soulfire. Welcome to Poetry Soup. Hope you enjoy your time here. I had a much younger friend who called and said he had a gun pointed to his head. I think he just wanted me to come over, but I'm afraid of guns so I called the police. The police later called and said he had shot through the walls in his home and they believed he might have gone through with the suicide attempt. These "calls in the night" are often cries for attention - but sometimes they're real. cont.
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