Monday, October 1, 2012

Thinking Thin

MAGPIE 137

It Must Be Time for Lunch Now, 1976 by Francesca Woodman
Photograph courtesy Tess Kinkaid, Magpie Tales on Blogger


If I hide under the window sill
Covered by a tea towel
They'll think I'm out

They will only call me once
Shrugging their shoulders
When I don't appear

They will not come looking
Checking to see
If  I'm going to eat

I don't like being at the table
Where all can see 
Me playing with food

I'll stay here instead and bend 
The forks and spoons
Into interesting shapes

Assaulting the family's precious silver
Lets me concentrate
On thinking thin


Barbara M Lake ©
Trinidad WI
October 2012

27 comments:

  1. Very unsettling picture. Terrifying tale of descent into isolation.

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    1. It is an interesting picture and when Tess puts these up the brain can be really taxed. I didn't do a background check on the artist which most times I do. But without any research it came to me in a flash after no inspiration at all, where I should go with it.

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  2. One must wonder if these are the thoughts of a person battling an eating disorder ... intense, well written Ms. Bee!!

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    1. You wondered right Ms Helen - I was thinking anorexia. Thank you.

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  3. Have you been bulimic of anorexic? Certainly sounds like it. You captured the thinking well.

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    1. No, neither but I have known quite a few who have suffered with these illnesses. I imagine that's what it must be like. I was actually going to be more graphic but decided against. Thanks Jacqui.

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  4. Very well written Bee.
    One only has to read about eating disorders to understand it, especially if one has studied psychology.

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    1. Thank you so much. I was once quite - well, very ill with an unknown viral infection. Not only did it send me into depression I just could not eat and after recovery, had no appetite. It was hard to work up an interest in food but the difference was I didn't hide my lack of interest.

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  5. Great painting of that disease of thinking thin ~ Sadly its more universal than we think ~ Outstanding write on this prompt ~

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    1. Thank you so much. I was reading recently that it's now an epidemic in the over 60s age group.

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  6. Well written Bee - captures perfectly the thoughts of someone with an eating disorder (I haven't had one - but someone very close to me did)

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    1. Thank you Jane. It's a horrible disease which even now I don't think many people understand,

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  7. One of my favorite takes this week. Terse and affecting.

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    1. You're very kind and I am thrilled. Thank you and welcome.

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  8. This is very perceptive. The hiding is a big part of this debilitating condition, from what I have read, and you started your poem off nicely with this, following up with the apathy of those who supposedly care and the OCD of the sufferer. Excellent.

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    1. Yes the hiding does play an enormous part. Thank you.

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  9. When I first saw the picture, nothing came to me except believe it or not, the face of Amy Winehouse. Strange eh?

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  10. Replies
    1. Thank you and thank you for coming over to my page. I love the Sacred Heart on yours.

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  11. Sad and powerful write, Bee...one of your best, my friend...

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    1. Thank you Tess. Powerful words coming from you which give me hope..........

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