The 2000’s

A Prose Poem

It was the horror stories to end all horror stories. Years of pain and suffering, waking up, crying in pain, before we ever knew. Before they told us, “There’s something wrong with her blood”. Life threatening anemia, bleeding through the stomach, through the nose, throwing up blood. Heart attacks, kidneys shutting down, praying in ICU.

It was cancer. Chemo. The children were small, it tore us all to pieces, on the inside. Fragmented emotions, it changed us, left scars, I’m still dealing with it. Thank God she made it, thank God. Fear came to live in me, and built a castle. I’m tearing it down though, brick by brick. And I’m not giving up.

Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t fight, that’s bull. You may need an army behind you, or you may need the strength of the One who made you, but you can fight. We press on in spite of the battles.

My Love is the one, that taught me courage – taught me to fight – and she is the reason – that I write. Living the inspiration.

Bruised and bloodied, but walking out the healing now. Living in the light.

Keep fighting, and I wish you peace!

                

Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, nicodemasplusthree

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

The Last Man on Planet Earth

He hid in a cave for three weeks. Fortunately, with this last biological plague, there was no more screaming coming from the valley below. Besides the water he had stockpiled, his most valued possession was his wind up radio, which didn’t need any batteries. The news had all stopped now, and he wasn’t sure how many people had died. But before the broadcasts had ended, he heard that there were a few people, known to have an immunity to the virus. Was he one of them? He wasn’t sure.

Should he go down to look around? The closest buildings were some houses, and further down the mountain, a small shopping center. After waiting two more days, he decided to give it a try, and spend no more than thirty minutes in the area, after which he would quickly retreat back to the cave. He was terrified he would catch whatever it was that had swept through the area so quickly, but his food had run out days ago. He started down the mountain, on foot.

As he walked past the houses that dotted the mountain, there was no one around. Were they all gone now? He stuck to the road as he walked, believing that if he went too close, or knocked on their doors, he would get a pistol or shotgun in his face. Nothing moved. There was only the wind, rustling through the trees.

Several miles later he made his way to the shopping center. He knew there was a 7-11, and a few small stores. Maybe he could get a sandwich at the deli. As he got closer, he could see something wasn’t right. There were clumps of something laying on the ground, he could make out a purse, next to a car with an open door. They were dead bodies!! His mind started racing, he wanted to run. But wait – there was no smell, and they weren’t quite dead bodies. What was going on here?

He noticed there was no sound here either, and the silence was heavy. He managed to calm himself down, as he carefully walked closer. His heart started pounding.

They were clothes, different piles of clothes, without anyone in them! People had fallen right where they were, shoes, belts, hats, all in a mostly neat row, making the outline of a person, but there was no body. Chill bumps ran up and down his spine.

It was very clear that whatever killed these people, dried them up so badly, that it turned their remains into dust, which then blew away in the wind. Would he catch the infection? He didn’t care anymore, he needed food, so he rummaged through the 7-11, and then the deli, loading up his backpack with as much as he could. He took off again, running up the mountain.

He felt horrible taking things that he hadn’t paid for, but he had no choice…….

 

To be continued.

 

 

Writing and Image © Copyright 2015, nicodemasplusthree

Peace and blessings to everyone.

“If you love nature, you will love people.”

Take My Hand

 

Note: This poem is current ,but looks back at the past, when we needed each other so much, just to survive. Please listen to the music at the bottom, especially if you are going through a rough time right now.

Nobody ever told me it would hurt this much,

to see you in pain, sick, and depressed,

hanging on by a thread, help us God.

It is the hardest thing I have ever done,

take my hand,

and we will go through this together,

don’t let go….

I can’t make it without you.

 

 

Poetry © Copyright 2014, nicodemasplusthree

Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

War could not remove

her smile,

her face, shining,

radiating.

In spite of mortars exploding,

we embrace.

Machine gun fire over our heads,

Rocket launchers, grenades,

Johns Hopkins.

They said she needed a transplant,

I once saw 3 people,

from the best hospital in the world,

take 45 minutes to get a line started,

in her hand. Puncture wounds everywhere,

bandages.

Holding each other, we keep standing,

my heart breaks, and falls on the floor.

I will never forget the artillery,

the lady two rooms down – died.

We fight on, up the hill,

Dark night.

Suiting up with gown, gloves, and mask,

to visit her.

Chemo is next, we use our flame throwers,

screaming for help

we cross the river, fall in the trench,

hand to hand combat, side by side.

Air support, reinforcements.

Battle raging…

and then smoke… but calm.

Dawn on the horizon,

she puts on a mask, N95 by 3M,

no hair, skin peeling,

we walk out of the hospital,

for healing, we kiss.

And now…

She turns to look at me –

and sends healing my way.

I see new skin, not much hair,

but I am stunned by how beautiful she is,

she radiates,

we embrace again, and more…

I love her skin, her lips, her smile.

Healing,

from the Garden of Eden.

 

 

© Copyright 2014, nicodemasplusthree

Marriage

It’s amazing to me how we can survive what we go through in life. Sometimes we do get beaten up. Growing up with hell in our house, accidents, cancer, people dying, heartbreak and suffering. There is healing. Nature can help us, but I think the deeper healing comes from relationships. We can move on, go forward, receive healing – with each other.

Marriage

Wounded, but together

hand in hand, walking

separately looking back

how did we survive?

both with parents beating themselves up,

liquor,

violence,

we were small

never having enough

to grow up with.

government jobs brought normal

buying a car.

And then…

we found each other, healing

love came, to 2 – burned out houses.

Reborn, alive

rings, we said I do

then we said, not me

but You

cancer, chemo couldn’t kill us

but fear beat me with a stick.

Still wounded, but together

more healing,

still hand in hand, walking.

 

 

 

© Copyright 2014, nicodemasplusthree