Gumball Poetry - Poetry by Martha Clarkson

Martha Clarkson

After the Diagnosis

You sit in a diner
by the river in Easton
driving circles
in your coffee
with a spoon that holds
your hand
like the comfort of the color
cream turns coffee,
coffee that spills
over the side of the cup
when your hand jerks
out of its round rhythm,
soaks the napkin in the saucer
eats at
the paper.

Martha Clarkson is a designer in Kirkland, Washington. She has been published in Arnazella, Rain City Review, and the Portland Review.

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Sherry from Paris, KY

Very economic and evocative
The economy with which this poem paints a picture is very impressive. I will remember this one for a while.

Randi Rose Moon (RoseyMoon@webtv.net) from Texas

I believe this poem holds much deep meaning. I throughly enjoyed it. I realize that I liked it so much, that I wanted more. Maybe that was your intention but I'm curious to read more. I want to see their expression and the murmor from thier throat and if they're already breathing their own coffee breath. Do you have any more poems you wouldn't mind sharing with a young writer about to enter college, hoping to gain more perspectives on other's view of the way they see things? Sorry for the long question. Please write back. Very intrested.

D. Welch from NY, NY

Diagnosis I know.
The title leaves you in vague wonderment. However the content spells it out. We don't need to know the problem or illness. All we need to know is the feeling and she portays it so well. NUMBNESS, DISBELIEF, FEAR OF WHAT IS YET TO COME all in one little beautiful composite of words. Thank You.

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