Epileptic

dedicated to a friend...

Struck down like a bludgeoned horse

Unpacked like a Christmas pullover

A carpet chewer; small motor

Full of sparks and lost to us

The smell of melted plastic

Synaptic dancing under waves.

But for all this;

A changer with the breath of divinity

You travel the second road.

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

The Christmas pullover -- yes! Why didn't I think of that line? Man, I dig your images. Happily gorging away here ...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is so well done, Leslie..."unpacked like a christmas pullover"

like that line..."synaptic dancing"

have had students have these in class..it is scary...but they are such special people dealing with this dilemma constantly, yet living their lives...

[DIVYA]

I have witnessed an epileptic episode in school once and it was so much like how you described it here.

"Struck down like a bludgeoned horse

Unpacked like a Christmas pullover

A carpet chewer; small motor"


Just a few synapses sparking erratically can create such a profound experience. This was great to read.

[stars are far]

That was very greatly done

[Jeremy Baker]

Having a son with epilepsy I can attest to the truth in these beautiful, ironic and challenging lines. Your gift of insight has not dimmed, my friend, nor has my enjoyment when absorbing your work over and over again. The almost aloof, matter of fact way of describing the inner turmoil works by not playing on the emotional, which, ironically, packs a more emotive punch as a result. Terrific writing by a master.

[Leslie Philibert]

Thanks for the kind words. I wasn`t sure if I should have written this, a real difficult job. I tried to
capture both sides of this, as I work with children who have epilepsy, and wanted to express how much I admire the way they are. And such a good review from a poet of your quality is worth a lot
to me.