Daily Prompt; The Outsiders

http://dailypost.wordpress.com, DP, Daily Prompt

Tel us about the experience of being outside, looking in — however you’d like to interpret that.

Photographers, artists, poets: show us OUTSIDE.

I look down at my body and what I see I don’t like. But do I really do anything about it? No, well I can say yes if I am not caring for Al, or the weather is nice. If it is warm, or if the sun is shining, or if I have nothing better to do. If no one is stopping by. If I don’t have any laundry or house to attend to. Depends on how I feel. If I get up in time. If I have no errands to run.

I stand looking down at my body. I glance at Al laying there in his bed. Four steel sets of bars holding him so he doesn’t fall out. A cheap, hard, plastic mattress is what he lies on, while I have a pillow top mattress at the other end of the house.

I look down at my body and I see my worn out slippers and my house coat I am standing in. I should get dressed but geesh, who really cares. Then I glance up at Al and he is clothed in a cloth brief, a cut up the back T-shirt. His toes are shoeless. He has a cotton sheet draped over him. Pillows stuffed under, beside every direction to keep him from getting bedsores.

I look down at my body and I wish I could find the time to take a nice, long, hot bubble bath. Soaking in my favorite scent, splashing hot water down my back. Listening to my favorite music while I watch the glow from the lit candles surrounding me. Then I glance up at Al and I can’t remember the last time he felt water splash over his body. Each day he receives at least one bed bath. We all know there is no better feeling than climbing out of a nice shower or bath.

I look down at my body and I glance up at Al.

A sister I know I am

A stranger I do feel

There is no worse feeling

When you know this is very real

Doing all I can

But never quite enough

His illness makes him weak

But I am growing tough.

It isn’t cool looking outside, in

I can not find one word to say

But I know he is my brother I love

And maybe Jesus will come here today.

Terry Shepherd

01/09/2014