Clover Kreger
Woodlands Healing Centre
Tactile Deprivation
by Clover Kreger
Crazy Eyes –
softly places his bum on the back seat of the bus
and eyes
and eyes
and eyes you up
and tries
and tries and tries
quickly –
to touch
your shrinking hand
You move
to be pursued
sitting down
or standing up
round the confines of the bus
Two young men fortress you in the back seat
with their heads, hands, knees,
so he gives up
and glides up
to try
and try
and try
to touch the other foreign woman on the bus
this failing, he makes a rush
on the other passengers on the bus
to touch a hand, or something bolder,
to lay his hand upon a shoulder
and soon there is a silent reaction
as passengers frantically jump up, and push by
no one daring to look him in the eye
Crazy Eyes
smells
though young, and virile, repels
and tries
and tries
and tries
to make contact
with humanity
he tries
and tries
and tries. . .
you’re torn between the desire to laugh, and the impulse to cry
’cause you know it’s not easy
being tactilely deprived
socially misfit
laughed at and despised
and you, too, want to lay your head on somebody’s shoulder
life seems daily harder, humanity colder
you can sense his distress
it’s all amiss
he only wants to be cuddled and kissed
but he can’t play the civility game
and is destitute
has no money for prostitutes
Crazy Eyes
smells
though young,
and virile,
repels
and tries
and tries
and tries
I’d like to try too
Only I’m not crazy enough to
A Selection of Poems by Clover Kreger
I'd rather flee than fight thee
Nascent Morning in the Mountains
In Transient Flashes, For a Transcendental Moment which Passes, Life (Can't You See?) Is an Ecstasy
The Fit Cats and Fat Whores of Singapore
Tactile Deprivation
When Lost in Literary Labyrinths. . .
All Fineness and Finery Goes to Earth
© Copyright 2007 Clover Kreger Disclaimer: The information at this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The content of this website comprises only the observations and opinions of the authors and contributors: it does not constitute medical advice to readers.