The Idea of Blood

Yes there is beauty in blood,
a river flowing with sugar, vitamins,
antibodies, enzymes,
oxygen, CO2,
bringing life to the cells,
and healing,
but beauty in blood pouring from wounds,
in bloodstains on clothing,
on bedding, on bandages,
bright red, then sticky, then brown?
Beauty in the mess, the smell?

The beauty of blood shed,
blood spilt, blood lost,
danger, death,
could be seen as symbolic.
Think of the wounded healer
who alone can be trusted
to bear the real pain.

June 26th 2005
*

Pain

All the little cells are screaming.
Blood is pouring out.

Root out this evil!
Destroy it before it destroys us!

No, wait.
Listen and think.
We must try to understand.

What’s the matter with you?
Are you mad or something?

July 26th 2005
*

Tides of Pain

A deep sea,
in places unfathomable,
sweeping in at high tide
or receding to a thin blue line on the horizon.
Memories swim in it like fish,
little or monstrous.
Safer to move away inland,

but the sea is always there.
We could be caught unawares
by a tsunami.

August 4th 2005

*

Val Bucknall © 2005