By Flapper Press Poetry Café:
The Flapper Press Poetry Café continues to support poets from around the globe and takes great pride in featuring their new work. We continue our new series called Poetry Spotlight in which poets are invited to entice readers with a look into their latest work along with some of the poet's insight, inspirations, and their favorite lines of poetry from their books.
This week, we've invited Rick Christiansen to share his favorite lines from his new poetry book, Bone Fragments.
Rick Christiansen is a former corporate executive, stand-up comedian, actor, stage director, and current workshop teacher. His new book, Bone Fragments, came out from Spartan Press in January. He has been recently nominated for a Touchstone Award and is a member of the Writer’s Place and of the St. Louis Writers Guild. He and his fiancé, Kim, have recently adopted a new puppy.
Hands
I asked my mother once, after my father had died, what her favorite thing about him had been. She sat and thought for a long moment. I watched the muscles of her face move as she considered the question. I knew her face. I could discern even shadows of emotion as she shifted expressions. She at first looked thoughtful, then wistful, and finally a look of satisfaction settled in her gaze. “His hands,” she said gently. I waited for her to say more. But her declaration had carried her inside of herself for a moment. Finally, she spoke.
“After the cancer and the mastectomy, the nurse had to give us detailed care instructions for the wound where my breast had been removed. There was a small tube sutured into the incision that extended out almost an inch. The nurse called it a drain. All of this had to be cleaned and re-bandaged each day. It was not something I could do alone. Your father listened carefully to all of the instructions and watched the nurse dress the site with the gauze and bandages. I was not able to make myself even look down to where my breast had been as she worked. I just looked at your father. Then we drove home.
That night, it was time to clean and redress the incision and drain. Your dad didn’t say anything. He just set out the bandages and gauze and other supplies on a TV tray he had placed next to the high back chair he had put near our bed. He led me to the chair and helped me sit down. He sat directly in front of me on a lower chair that positioned his face in front of my chest. I remember his hands. So large and rough from the garden, gently and almost delicately unbuttoning the front of my nightgown and removing the dressing from my chest. I would not look down. I felt the air where my breast should be.
Your father’s expression never changed as he worked. It was the same look he had on his face when he put finishing touches on one of his paintings. I focused on looking at his hands. I remember being SO frightened that he would pull back or be disgusted by my hollow chest with a tube protruding. I can talk about it now. His face was only inches from my deformity. His hands worked gently but firmly. Feeling his hands on me . . . reassured me . . . I think . . . I imagined him painting something beautiful. I always loved his hands.”
My Favorite Line:
“I imagined him painting something beautiful. I always loved his hands.”
From Rick Christiansen:
I love this piece because it portrays the incredible relationship between my adoptive parents. Women’s health is family health. Cancer must be attacked by a village. Dad just stepped up and was a good partner. I want to give that message to the world.
I hope people will find my poetry to be compelling. I strive to be a good storyteller. I think there are some good stories among the poems in this volume. I hope people will read my work and it will stick with them.
Bone Fragments is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and from hundreds of independent booksellers. If you are interested in a signed copy of the book, please contact the poet via his website.
The Flapper Press Poetry Café
We welcome submissions from poets for the Flapper Press Poetry Café Poetry Spotlight series. We are always looking for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors.
Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our guidelines before submitting. By submitting your work to Flapper Press, you agree to allow us permission to publish. Please note that we receive numerous submissions throughout the year and endeavor to publish as soon as our calendar allows.
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