“Wrong number’’, said a familiar voice.
I slammed down the receiver, my insides burning like hell.
No point trying. She wasn’t going to talk to me
So scooped up the remote from the grimy, vinyl floor
Clicked the green button
Same, old voices rambling like drunken baboons
“Anarchists are protested against, and I protest!’’
(Why did the subtitles have an Oxford comma?!)
“We are a constitutional monarchy, never absolute!’’
Voice babbles in vigour and pain
Wrong
Switching back and forth between each channel
Childish cartoons – ”Let’s go out and play!”
Dramatic soaps – “David, I hate you!”
I throw the remote. Turn the flipping thing off.
A faint squeaking noise across the hard, wooden floor
Wheels rotating all the way round
Jack. My differently-abled brother, I was learning to like
He was the only ruddy person I was ever nice to
Or appeared to be.
His hands rapidly moved, dexterous with sign language by now
“Whoa whoa, mate! Slow down with your signs!”, I said
Appearing to be cheerful.
I scanned the letters in my mind
“A..F.F…I..R…M..A..T.I..V….E”
Affirmative. That’s what he was saying
My mind flashed across the past
Snipers. Screaming. Crippled.
He still talked as if he was in the war
Oh, yes. Affirmative.
The answer to a simple question
“Do you want to come with me to Libby’s party?”
The answer: affirmative.
Meaning, Yes.
An amazingly sensitive mind.
Your words are your belief , your experience
The thoughts of a young thinking mind-perfectly expressed. Kudos to her!
Thank u soooo much Kakamoni Dadu
Oh my goodness! I am simply gobsmacked! Look at the level of maturity of this poet! She certainly has a bright future ahead of her.
What an amazing thought has been expressed literally by a little poet of ten years old. I wish her success in life.
I am overwhelmed with the thought. Bright future is awaiting for you.
Radharani, Its an excellent piece of work. Keep it up and God bless you. Love, Dadu and Thamma
My baby! I love this poem. Reading it overand over. Does not get old.
Thank you to everyone who has praised me. You have encouraged me to write more poems that are just as good as this! Keep the comments coming in!
Proud of my lil gal
A poem that touches the heart and mind with its rare combination of sensitivity of emotions and felicity of language. Iona, you MUST keep writing from your heart….you have a rare gift that will bloom into something truly wonderful as you grow….