OZ in Oss

Hard for me, to see her strength
immobilized
by kindness
for kindness I believe it was.

The cage, though gilded
was
most tightly
fastened.

Lovely for her
thought I:
but doubt lingered.

I felt compelled to yell -
prepare thyself!
(for life is odd
and plays its own hand).

My mute button pushed
by me
thinking
things are worked out
things are accepted
make peace
and shut up.

and now
She returns
the real one
not the diluted version
anaesthetized
for the consumption
of one.
the real she
unhindered, unbridled
kicks open the door.

speaking of history
(his story...)

She returned, you see
to unfinished business
in the old world
(some would protest
she left plenty
of unfinished business
behind
in the new)
She returned to right a wrong
inflicted on she by he
but how could she right a wrong
since she was not the author?

Those left behind
in the new world
fending for themselves
with youthful vigor
learned
acceptance
to a greater
or lesser
degree.

And their silence was deafening
as she took her self
and her small treasures
to the old world
spending both
on one who left her alone
to fend for herself.
(good thing she had
some youthful vigor
of her own)

a strange trade, truly.
a good deed for a bad deed.

But man, did she catch up
with the undeveloped plot point
until the end
proclaiming loudly
of her happiness, of her love.

Did he surprise her with his goodness?
Did he surprise her with his concern?
Did he surprise her with loving consequence?
Not really.
But hey!
he did surprise her.

to wit:
No love was lost
between he and me
Ill spoken of?
Not a bit.
a bit
of history
is all
of it.

My mother in Oz, no, Oss
tending to her own needs
finding her own voice
learning
that no one relinquishes
the wheel of the ship
without relinquishing
the choice of harbour.

The curtain is pulled
the wizard exposed
the wizard of Oz
the wizard of Oss

my mothers keeper
my mothers keeper.

she takes the keys
stands in the doorway
the brightness blinding
a new way
a new day
a new life.


Simon, 2003.