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Summary

The poem "Leaving the Hospital on a Spring Morning" by RBGraham reflects on the contrast between the sterile environment of a hospital and the vibrant beauty of nature upon exiting, suggesting a metaphor for hope and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Abstract

The poem captures the narrator's transition from the confines of a hospital, a place associated with illness and recovery, to the outside world on a spring morning. The stark contrast is highlighted by the description of a double blooming cherry tree, its petals likened to confetti, which brings a sense of joy and renewal. The author ponders the indifferent yet generous nature of the environment, questioning the common perception of life as a waste in the context of hardship. Instead, the poem offers a perspective of life as a "love offering" even in dark times, urging the reader to truly see and appreciate the beauty around them.

Opinions

  • The hospital environment is depicted as grey and fluorescent, a place for the sick, aging, and mentally ill, suggesting a somber and institutional atmosphere.
  • The cherry tree is personified as a sentry, greeting the narrator with its beauty and providing comfort to their fatigue and mourning.
  • Nature is portrayed as neither kind nor cruel, but as an entity that can afford to be extravagant with its beauty, contrasting with the human tendency to overlook such beneficence.
  • The poem questions whether life is a waste, as some might proclaim, or if it is indeed a form of love and beauty amidst sorrow.
  • The author invites the reader to engage with their work beyond the poem, offering links to Medium, Twitter, and Instagram, and suggesting an AI service, ZAI.chat, as a cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4).

Leaving the Hospital on a Spring Morning

A Poem

Image by RBGraham

Upon leaving the grey walls and flourescent lights of this formidable center for the sick and aging, for the ill of mind, for the oft discarded, I look up into the floating essence of pale pink, a double blooming cherry tree just past the flashing exit, she stands as sentry, greeting my fatigue and

mourning. and the sky is azure beyond these branches, and the petals have blown about as bright confetti scattered lavishly such that the wet sidewalk is littered with their opulence.

I think how Nature is neither kind nor cruel, how this Mother can afford to let go, to throw her beauty about, to release her full

extravagence beneath my worn feet, how the world fails to notice this beneficence, how we witness without

seeing — you tell me, is this life a waste, as some proclaim, or is it a love offering in these dark days of sorrow?

Leaving the Hospital on a Spring Morning © RBGraham 2022. All Rights Reserved.

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Want to read more? I tweet @GrahamReta and my poems are on Instagram @RBGPoet. Thank you for your support and for reading my work.

Life
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Poetry
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