Guest guest Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 The Tube I watch as the toddler trips her bowed legs so unsteady Her mother scoops her up The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder Her mom rubs her back I forget where I am The PA snaps me out of it " Mind the gap, " it tells me And it is only then that I realize just how much I do ___________________________ I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in terms of being mothered. -Deanna ___________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 It's very pretty Deanna. It's so visual:) I can almost " see " this all happening. And I defiantly understand the gap..between what it should have been and what it really was.. Stefanie > > > The Tube > > I watch as the toddler trips > her bowed legs so unsteady > Her mother scoops her up > The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder > Her mom rubs her back > I forget where I am > > The PA snaps me out of it > " Mind the gap, " it tells me > And it is only then that I realize > just how much I do > > ___________________________ > > I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, > " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. > I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it > could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in > terms of being mothered. > -Deanna > ___________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 This is very pretty and sad to me both. Mind the gap....watching that kind of thing often kicks me in the gut emotionally. In that moment I feel the gap. And sometimes the pain of it causes me not to be careful and mind the real gaps in life I need to pay attention to. Great poem Deanna very evocative. > > The Tube > > I watch as the toddler trips > her bowed legs so unsteady > Her mother scoops her up > The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder > Her mom rubs her back > I forget where I am > > The PA snaps me out of it > " Mind the gap, " it tells me > And it is only then that I realize > just how much I do > > ___________________________ > > I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in terms of being mothered. > -Deanna > ___________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 Deanna,I find your poem very touching.I don't think the reference via the title is too obscure.For me reading it what is left unsaid in the lines as you set the scene heightens the effect of the closing line:I forget where I am. Your poem has a haiku-like vibe to it: the seemingly banal signifying a deeper,painful poignancy to the one observing the scene. I lived in London for years and when I took the Tube that " mind the gap " announcement reminded me of how being raised by a nada had affected my consciousness--I could never just tune it out.It seemed like that announcement was just so many words to the people around me,while for me it evoked my woundedness.An announcement that is in fact only reminding the passengers to step carefully onto the train--while my reaction to it was: You don't have to tell me,I *do* mind the gap,more often than I ever would have wanted to! " Mind " as in bothered by it! " Mind " as in having been forced by circumstance to fjord existential chasms much deeper than the gap between carriage and platform on my own and/or to have to acknowledge them,on my own. I'm sure I couldn't have been the only one on the platform experiencing the unintentional irony of that announcement.So I think it's cool how you've used such a well known everyday phrase to poetic effect about being a KO--it resonates for me and I'm sure it would for many others. > > The Tube > > I watch as the toddler trips > her bowed legs so unsteady > Her mother scoops her up > The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder > Her mom rubs her back > I forget where I am > > The PA snaps me out of it > " Mind the gap, " it tells me > And it is only then that I realize > just how much I do > > ___________________________ > > I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in terms of being mothered. > -Deanna > ___________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 I LOVED your poem! I was very touched, and didn't find it obscure at all. I have visited London several times, so I remember " Mind the gap... " > > The Tube > > I watch as the toddler trips > her bowed legs so unsteady > Her mother scoops her up > The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder > Her mom rubs her back > I forget where I am > > The PA snaps me out of it > " Mind the gap, " it tells me > And it is only then that I realize > just how much I do > > ___________________________ > > I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in terms of being mothered. > -Deanna > ___________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2010 Report Share Posted October 15, 2010 Thank you , Stefanie, Jill and . , I always found that " mind the gap " saying creepy. It is really interesting that you related it to your childhood, even as you were hearing it! Deanna > > > > The Tube > > > > I watch as the toddler trips > > her bowed legs so unsteady > > Her mother scoops her up > > The girl rests her head on her mother's shoulder > > Her mom rubs her back > > I forget where I am > > > > The PA snaps me out of it > > " Mind the gap, " it tells me > > And it is only then that I realize > > just how much I do > > > > ___________________________ > > > > I don't know if this is too obscure. I've been thinking about that saying, " Mind the gap " , which you hear constantly when using the subway in London. I've been thinking about different meanings for " the Gap " and for me, it could mean that wide expanse between what was and what could have been, in terms of being mothered. > > -Deanna > > ___________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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