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Best Poems Written by Tania Horne

Below are the all-time best Tania Horne poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Tania Horne Poem

For My Deep Thinking Friend Who Is Coming To An End of Things

I came to see you at the remodeled hospital
there were bright tiles, statuary Marys, and assorted saints
"full code" was on the door.
We talked about your eventual escape and some summer plans
Now ,I am informed by curt text that there is a DNR with "comfort care,"
and no further attempts at treatment. 
Too much oxygen for home or nursing home, a quick move to hospice across the road.

I kind of knew when the nurse's eyes slid over you and
the live plant I brought in the optimism of the early part of the week 
was jammed in a light-less corner- I set it back on your tray. 

You showed me that the nurses no longer came running when you took off your mask- the machine readout was dimmed and the alarms no longer blared.

You want to be sure that I plant hazelnuts,
and build a bomb or storm shelter, you know someone with a backhoe...

"Jesus lives on the 4th plane, you know", you tossed out to engage me
"...but there are other planes..." a gasp and the mask back on.
Your sister quickly interjects that I need to find "someone" to talk to you about this, someone who is interested.

I will talk to you about Jesus, and argue for his placement in the 6th plane
to see those blue eyes twinkle over the mask.
I will plant hazelnuts, I affirm, and look into the backhoe.

I see you, and I will see you around, my friend. 

For Mike M.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Addiction Ii

Addiction II
I listen carefully to gage what you are covering up
To hear if your words are slurred
Or your outlook too bleak, 
Or if you have verged into mania.
I tell myself, 
This is the nature of addiction.
I try not to take it personally, but
I internalize your depression and misplaced rage.
I love to hear from you on a good day
Straining towards the normalcy in your voice 
Recalling how you once were, and could be again
Imagining all the fun we could have as sisters.
Setting myself up to fall when you crash.
I cover for you to try to spare others the worry
How many stints in the ICU will it take 
“to reach rock bottom?”
I have been encouraged to walk away but I cannot.
My guilt and my love and my powerlessness weigh heavy.
This is the nature of addiction.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Eclipse

You were too cool to think the same things were neat that I did-
            the mundane was beneath the notice of your evolved intellect.

You would not have deigned to explain the pinhole effect of the leaves,
The crescent shapes scattered across the ground and on the walls.

Would you have regaled us with your time in Saudi Arabia?
With your native, unpracticed talents, your genealogy?

I recall  that I was one that could make you smile at the absurd, 
and knew you could value things that were silly, or ordinary.

The melancholy of those approaching milestones seeps in-
I'm adding molasses to my coffee again, sweetly bitter.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Dragon

A long, long time ago				
A girl lived with an unpredictable dragon.	
She walked softly around his brooding silence,	
but many times the flames cast forth despite her care.
She would scramble to take refuge, and make amends.
Struggling to please, ducking to avoid being singed.
The dragon was silent for days, or raged for hours.
Peeking around the corner when she walked home, 
she looked  for his long tail, the black tip quivering
as then she knew he lay anticipating her,  	
but eventually she would have to enter	
and face the hot ozone smell ,or the cold quiet.
The puzzling times were when the dragon was friendly
leaving gifts that were thoughtful, claiming devotion.
The girl grew stronger and his hold on her lessened.
She still felt compelled to check on dragon at times;
eventually he burned himself to cinders. 
Freed, she stopped looking for tails around the corner,
but the dread of his malevolence persisted
especially in dreams.

3-1-2017

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Addiction I

The edges of my heart have sloughed
From the immersion in your drama
This might not have a good endpoint 
I want to stop imagining your eulogy
See my sister as I saw her once
See that there was good in her
She was tough and fragile and cruel and kind
I say goodbye to you every day
Are you still here?

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Pearl

My brush caught the clasp on your strand of pearls   
for one frozen moment I saw them arc                 
dropping down the open drain one by one              
 
But the clasp held and I recalled that pearls are knotted 
each by each, carefully slid down the strand by hand      
Unless the whole necklace is lost, each pearl is safe      
 
I thought of you and the nape of your neck
bowed, elegant, your hand pulling up strands 
escaping your long and graceful hairline.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

An Albino Girl In the Neighboring Camping Lot

Loading my car
trying to hide my covert examination
Fine features accented by heavy white brows and lashes 
Colorless, shining hair 
Such a strange and elegant beauty
What is it like to be so different
Yet so lovely?

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Lonely Boy

An overnight visit from 
brothers that fight
ride two-wheel bikes
and chug chocolate milk
brings out some pouting,
some sharing issues,
and a new found appreciation 
for toys long-forgotten.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

What I Took For Granted

I took for granted that the 
  seek and destroy action 
   of chemotherapy                     
   would find cancer cells.
           
I knew that this also meant 
 “other dividing cells",
   thus the total hair loss, 
    the low white blood cells.

I took for granted that when
   the cancer was gone,
   I would be mostly well-
    just a little slower.
 
BUT

  This slipping in my mind
   the abrupt shaking of 
    an Etch a Sketch 
    that leaves ghostly lines – 
   
 I follow them like bread crumbs 
   and put on a brave face. 
     I tell you I am fine. 
     I do know your name...

   Telomeres are unwinding- 
    cells aging rapidly now-
     Immunotherapy 
     offers others hope.
  
    I took for granted that I 
     made the right decision
     to take the treatment
     and save my only life- 
    
     I am paying the price, 
      But grateful every day
      I no longer take 
      ANYTHING for granted.

Details | Tania Horne Poem

Almost Caught

My mind keeps returning to the sense of a dream
Not even a clear memory, but snatches of a scene.
In my dreams, I remember other dreams.
Trying to explain that fractured cohesion to myself,
fully expecting one day to remember how to fly.