“Red Barbed Wire” © Thomas Riesner

 

Vigil

I return after sitting by an old man’s death bed.
The inhalation like a vacuum –
as if he wants to eat life
(despite the diaper).

Then the closed eyes.
We tell him our names.
You say he is safe to go.
To be with his wife.
His sons.

Love bombed, cocktails, candles, bath.

I hold my ground, you think I’ll come around

I’ll let you sleep (he sleeps), you’ll keep – until tomorrow.

My sorrow is not this old man, but you.

 

Megan Cartwright is an author, poet, teacher/ sometimes insane person. Her poetry has emerged from – and attempts to reconcile – her experience of a real-life dystopia.

Thomas Riesner: “I was born in Leipzig,Germany in 1971 and I still live here today. Already in elementary school I often painted “abstract” instead of the given concrete drawing. I later retained this style or changed it to “abstract figuration ” I painted a lot at home, always without professional guidance. I didn’t have any specific role models. When I start a picture, I only have a certain idea, but often something completely different emerges. I would describe myself as an outsiderart artist.”