OBSERVE AND OUTSMART

This is part of me, it's not WHO I am, it's just a part of me. I am used to being me, have never known otherwise: Wheelchair (I am paraplegic), Tourette and stuttering. And a whole lot more but that's not very relevant for this poem. Normally I don't like to explain my poems: make it your own and interpret away. But sometimes, like with this one, I for one time want to tell you how hard it can be to break through people's defensive and offensive laughter and ridicule. It takes guts, humour and improvisation. I am in mental hospital at the moment, and the poem describes group therapy. I won them over the first day and we are all fine now and get along.

OBSERVE AND OUTSMART

The circle looks expectantly

Chairs shuffle their feet 

One speaks reluctantly

No eyes meet

I observe

My eyes shift and tic in unison

Chair swerves

Unvoluntarily rests upon

Someone's tense nerves

I tic and stutter

Source of endless laughter

My hands flutter

But I only leave after

Their awed voices

See what I wrote...

Their antics, their patois

Observed by me, I gloat

The smallest detail I catch

Their every shenanigan

Game, set and match

My pencil speaks

Because it can.

***

Poem by Darren White

December 31, 2016