#SeasonalSonnets: 2nd Dec.

Hello my dear readers, and welcome to the second instalment of my #SeasonalSonnets series, for December 2nd. This morning's entry isn't quite as upbeat as yesterday's (far from it, actually!) but that's okay, because the aim of this project is to highlight the two facets of support I find in this type of poetry - it helps me both to remain positive and to process the tougher parts of my life.

This piece is about the difficulties I'm having with one of the newer recruits to my team of personal assistants, so I feel I should clarify a few things. Firstly, the more negative sections are entirely anonymous and she will have no possibility of reading it as we are not connected on any form of social media. Secondly, although it's been inspired by the actions of an individual, it's really a more general expression of my worry and frustrations regarding the situations I find myself in in relation to personal care. Thirdly, whilst I do make specific and special mention of my wonderful Fiona (which she wholeheartedly deserves!) for the convenient rhyme of her name, I am of course forever grateful to the other people who have stuck it out with me - some over the course of many years.

Following that preamble, here's the poem, along with another of my 'light drawings' that suitably evokes both the mood of the piece and the weather today.  I hope you enjoy and, if so, please do pop by tomorrow for more.

2nd December

I’m trying to be grateful I’ve a voice,

that I can use to speak aloud and say:

“Employing you for ‘care’ is not a choice,

you’ve left me in the lurch, it’s not okay!”

Truth is, I only say it in my head,

or softly so that none but I can hear,

or else she might not help me out of bed –

a prospect filled with naught but dread and fear.

For then I’d be denied a proper life,

and not write theses* or hang out with friends,

but wallow in a place of pain and strife

to which there ‘d seem no independent end.

My song this week’s “Thank goodness for Fiona,

for (without her) I’d truly be alone(r)”.

*NB: I’m writing just a ‘thesis’, singular, but the plural scanned better for the purposes of this poem. Don’t worry – I’m sensible!

Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016