Notes About The Poem
This poem was written a long time ago. As I applied for a job at a local hospital, I was interviewing for an EVS position, and the lady I sat across became someone I will never forget.
The Anchor in the room
The Anchor in the Room
I sat across the polished desk, a storm behind my eyes,
Trying to hold the steady mask, the Sovereign’s disguise.
But as the questions started and the air grew thin and tight,
I felt the old familiar pull of shadow and of light.
The tears began to gather, spilling soft against my will,
While I fought to find the words to prove my spirit’s standing still.
But then I looked across the space and found a different sight,
Not a cold examiner or a judge of what is right.
I saw a face of kindness, like a hearth-fire in the snow,
With a warmth that gave permission to let the sorrow flow.
A quiet, human comfort in the crinkle of her gaze,
That reached across the distance through the suffocating haze.
It wasn't just an interview, a tally, or a test,
But a moment where a weary soul was allowed a bit of rest.
Her smile was like an anchor dropped within a raging sea,
Acknowledging the person and the pain inside of me.
For a second, all the ridicule and the ghosts of my past debt,
Were silenced by a stranger that my spirit finally met.
I felt the vulnerability become a bridge of grace,
Reflected in the mercy of that soft and caring face.
It gave me hope for futures where the labor isn't grim,
Where the light of human kindness doesn't ever have to dim.
I walked out with a beating heart, no longer quite so small,
Knowing she saw the woman, and she didn't mind the fall.
The path is still a mystery, the answer yet to come,
But the freezing cold inside of me has started to go numb.
I found a seed of promise in that office, in that chair,
Because a warm and comforting soul was waiting for me there.
-Debra
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
