Day Trading
Reaching over the arbor’s lattice
Once green, now ashen, leaves
Tightly curled, tenaciously
Cling to barbed limbs.
Perhaps asleep, there is no
crowded display that comes
of buds and dense blossoms,
nor the bees and beetles that carry out their
mortal share of summer work.
Now the wind trades easily between
The tangled, thorn-locked, stalks,
That make their own peculiar duet –
Ticking, scraping, whistling, upon
and through the weathered arbor’s rails,
The fallow music of a storm.
When brief respite-warmth is offered,
The frozen ramble of boughs and leaves
Labors through the day, preparing
for the leveraged buy-out of spring,
the public trade of summer. Weighted
and burdened by snow and ice, still
it bends and waits, digging deep, holding on
to its immortal share of winter work.
**********
Dr. Cutting will be playing his trade on my thumb tomorrow. Again, it is day surgery. Hopefully this time, a more intricate and involved fusing of the IP joint of my right thumb will take hold, and I will truly be at the end of the surgery tunnel. Believe me, I have had enough. . .
Reflections From a Cloudy Mirror 
Hope it went well.
I’v always been amazed at how God brings a bud out of a stem, when and where, the tiny bud swells then shows a bit of color, moving to the grand opening of petals so perfectly placed—the season of Spring coming with the message of resurrection and life just like your rose programed to do the same. You have set the stage, Paula, for photographing what is to come.We look forward to your masterpiece of pictorial photography for your poem.
You have an excellent Doctor praying for success.
Tell Dr. Cutting . . . ENOUGH!!!!
And get better soon!
So descriptive and evocative. Love it.
Hubs
Thanks so much!
I don’t know the back story with this thumb, Paula, but it seems you’ve had more than a bit of grief with it. Hopefully, this surgery will be the end of the matter once and for all. Keeping you in thought and prayer.
You may make a convert of me with this poetry thing you’ve got going. I like your style–very straightforward, says what you mean, little or no deciphering required! 🙂
Thanks so much, Karen! I think I must be the sort of poet who appeals to readers with your sensibilities. I have MANY detractors over at a poetry-writing site – mainly because they feel I do too much telling and not enough showing. It is an ongoing battle for me to learn how to change while retaining the essential character of who I am and what I want to write.
For the initial back story, go to:
There is a lot of stuff that has gone on since then with more surgeries and revisions, etc that involve my wrist, elbow, and hand/fingers. So far I believe I am at surgery #11 – just on my right arm/hand. I’m tired of it. . .
—— and within the dry stalks
the buds, excited, wait
for the warmth
which will give them new life
Good luck for tomorrow, Paula
John
Thank you, John! i know it will go well. No worries here – I just want it all over with!
I love your poetic response – thanks!
Tell Dr. Cutting from me that I am bigger than he is! Not to hurt you. By the way, in Germany we always laughed at the sign of a surgeon called Dr. Stückeschneider which, literally translated, would be something like Dr. Cutter-in-pieces. Your Dr.l Cutting made me remember that name. May all be well.
I am fortunate to have this incredibly skilled surgeon. He is 50 years old – looks about 30, and recently retired from the US Army. He worked for many years repairing the arms and hands of soldiers who had been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. His name has been the source of a lot of laughs here at RFACM for me and the readers! I will inform him that he has other people to deal with and/or get through should there be any problems, if Ashley doesn’t get the message across! 😆
Dr. Stückeschneider (the butcher – perhaps less literally?) cracks me up. My favorite, though, is one that Ashley saw one day. He was looking for a telephone somewhere and walked into a gynecologist’s office. The name on the door? Dr. Warmfleisch! BWA-HA-HA!
Paula, I pray your surgery goes well tomorrow. I’m digging the lines
“the leveraged buy-out of spring/the public trade of summer.” It reminds me of the way I would watch the seasons change from the window of the office back when I worked in finance.
That theme started in my mind when I heard the rose branches tapping against our arbor – sounded like the old ticker-rape machines! So glad you got it!
Only line I didn’t put in is the “recession” of autumn! 😆
Good luck.
Thanks! I’m sure it will go fine. . .just hoping it lasts! 😆