Sandy Patton’s most recent poem to appear here was “Waking Without You” (June 2017)
Downstairs / Upstairs
By Sandy Patton
Existing Within
Deafening Silence
Locked behind closed doors of pretense
Playing out passive games of charades
Each Remaining
Invisible To
The Other
Cruel Words
Once Sliced
Far deeper than the sharpest blade
Now, finally, she’s numb to him
Apathy Replaces
The Loving
And Loathing
Downstairs He
Sips Bourbon
Lips twisting in a sick smirk
Envisioning her shame at his words
Never Knowing
He’s Dead
To Her.
Upstairs, Among
Her Unfinished
Poems, shattered dreams, she calmly sits
Meticulously counting and swallowing each pill
At Last
She Finds
Her Peace.
Downstairs/upstairs is to me devastating, emotionally harrowing, the drama inexorably unfolding. I love the multiple symmetries of structure: downstairs/upstairs; four identically sculpted stanzas; he sips bourbon with a smirk/she meticulously takes pills and finds peace in death; a different type of death in each stanza. The strict structure barely contains the violence being depicted. This poem is a masterpiece of commonplace married life, perhaps made more exceptional by the woman’s ultimate suicide. Still, there are emotionally deadening suicides among the still-living.
Dear Howard, I appreciate, so much, your words. The time and thoroughness of your comments means a great deal. Thanks, Sandy
This tells a big story in a small place. Great poem of their relationship until the twist at the end.
Dear Jeanette, thank you, as always, for ‘getting’ what I was trying to convey. xoxo Sandy
you’re welcome.