Charlottesville Curriculum
I am afraid of your transcendental death.
When people say think of a man. I think of a brown man.
Sometimes the earth grows khella because she can feel our suffering.
Yooooooing beneath Costco tikis.
When people say think of a man. I think of a white man.
I am meant to hold you in your oblique pain, your map-driven pain.
Yooooooing beneath Costco tikis.
I was drunk holding my teeth in like students.
I am meant to hold you in your oblique pain, your map-driven pain.
You die like an actor.
I was drunk holding my teeth in like students.
My body was a brown dog I shoved back into the water.
You die like an actor.
I beseeched but couldn’t stay out of the first person.
My body was a brown dog I shoved back into the water.
Hold me, hold me, hold me, holdmeholdmeholdme.
I beseeched but couldn’t stay out of the first person.
Where does it hurt, we say.
Hold me, hold me, hold me, holdmeholdmeholdme.
I am afraid of your transcendental death.
Reflective Writing Prompt
Write about a time you tried to hold someone else’s pain.
Reflective Writing From the Prompt
She woke up
far quicker than anticipated
ventilated
when her lungs gave up
Monica texted
Mommy woke up when I held her hand and gave her the cross
I got gulat and said I love you
te quiero mucho bella quieres mucho
nurse told me she’s trying to talk
nurse said not too much holding
she doesn’t want to sedate her too much
I asked nurse if I should go out or stay here
nurse said I can stay beside her
help me spread my angel wings
yesterday her eyes fluttered open
she heard my voice
gesturing frantically with her fingers to write
adjust
I can’t take more of this
Off
DNR
I can’t take more
sedate me
pouting
anger
slowly slowly explain
inject courage
cajole
her features soften
the room relaxes
I am relieved
wings wide open
-Anita Lim