Episodic Memory

Posted on December 10, 2019 by

41 Comments

Heartbeats pounding, echoing in my ear
tha-bump, tha-bump, tha-bump, pause, pause, pause —
tha-tha-tha bump, tha-tha-bump, tha-bump ——–
Mouth fills with the metallic taste of fear
Arms heavy, heavy, heavy, legs trembling, buckling
head aching, blurry vision, mind wandering
down dark alleys to somewhere, anywhere to escape the sound
Deep breaths in, deep breaths out, still black before my eyes
darting, racing, fluttering
nowhere to run from the incessant beat, beat, beating
of my unpredictable heart, is this the end?
No, no, no it can’t be, so many poems still inside me.

©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: This comes close to describing my recent health episode.

dVerse Poets Pub: Poetics Echo Echo Echo

Category: PoetryTags: , ,

41 Comments on “Episodic Memory”

  4. I like the way you used the heartbeats to illustrate your fear/anxiety (or a heart condition, not sure) and so glad it sounds like it is behind you now. “Miles to go before [you] sleep,” my dear ❤

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  5. At 75, I have this sensation much too often, like a car with 300,000 miles on it; old parts on the edge of breaking down.

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  6. The heart is where the Soul resides. And yes, powerfully depicted. There is an interesting book called, The Heart’s Code, by Dr Paul Pearsall which might be of use.

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  12. I hope you’re feeling better now, Linda. I’ve had a few episodes myself and it is frightening. You’ve captured the fear scarily well in your poem, and the heartbeats echo loudly in the repetitions. I look forward to more poems!

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  13. Nice last line and this one: “Mouth fills with the metallic taste of fear” I hadn’t thought of fear having a metallic taste before. Best wishes to write all those poems.

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  17. I hope all went well at the cardiologist. It’s a great description of a very scary sensation. Mine turned out to be anxiety…not great, but much better than many alternatives! (K)

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