literature

Pyotr's Comfort

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camelopardalisinblue's avatar
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Literature Text

Pyotr stands at the fence,
his back stooped and his feet
sea-locked, still attuned
to the sway of his houseboat.

His hands are hummingbirds
while he talks, his hair a silver ribbon
stretched down his back.

When we met, Pyotr introduced himself
as Peter; I tell him it's a name I'll remember.

It is. I wear that name like a blister,
a bruise I keep pushing at
to see if it's healed (it's not).

Peter tells me a little of his heritage--
his name is Peter, Pyotr, and sometimes, Piero;

we talk about houseboats and Russia
while our dogs sniff greetings. My Missy cries
at the fence, ready for his Tyke to play,
her tail a whirlwind of emotion.

At first I cannot separate Peter from the blister--

I think of Anastasia, Alexei,
the screaming of the massacre
and the broken fairy tales
proved lies

but Pyotr hands me a small gift
because he has it and I don't.

I poke at the place "Peter" lives
and it doesn't burst.
Day 12 of NaPoWriMo. No prompt in particular, but a little story (below).

So, my new neighbour has the same name as one of my abusers. It's not a name I'm very good with, and actually had to ask a friend not to refer to her husband as his full name because I felt like it dirtied him (she only rarely referred to him as that anyway). Anyway, it turns out it's his "Australian" name because he's actually Russian and his "real" name is the Russian version.

Our dogs are learning to be friends so we chat a little when I take Missy out to check the mail or put the bins out/bring them in, and tonight we were talking about fleas. I mentioned we've got a flea problem at the moment and he went inside and got one of his dog's flea tablets for Missy! It was really thoughtful and I was quite touched. So thanks, Pyotr. The title is a bit punny because the flea tablet he gave us was "Comfortis". :)
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shep4life's avatar
It is. I wear that name like a blister,
a bruise I keep pushing at
to see if it's healed (it's not).

This poem is packed with layers of meanings