Lingusitic Anthropology has a term called ' Habitus' - wherein your world view limits your options i.e. no one has limitless choices, the choice you make is constructed within the boundaries of what you know and acknowledge. Therin, lies the beauty of words. Language and words form the basis of our world view.
Here is my latest contribution to my world of words...
"Mama, my neck hurts"
"Mama, my neck hurts"
My 2 year old said to me.
"Okay darling, Mama will see"
I said to her, busy driving.
She sucks on her thumb
Her baby blues on me.
She smiles like an angel
in my rearview mirror
A car cuts in
I honk the horn
and lose track of her smile
Yelling at the idiot in front of me.
She starts to cry
My migraine starts.
I give her a lolly
and tell her "we're almost home".
My cell phone rings
It's from the office
The server is down
and we have a meeting soon.
"Damn it", I say, "I'm busy"
"My daughter's with me.
I'm driving her home.
I'll call you in 20."
I check my rearview mirror
She's sleeping like an angel
Her eyes closed
her hands by her side.
We arrive at home.
I'm calling the office
as I unbuckle her seat
"Wake up darling, we're home".
"Hold on", I say on the phone
"Darling, wakeup we're home".
She's heavy and slumped
My baby's not breathing.
Heaven help me!
My cell phone drops to the ground.
I check her breathing,
her airways and heartbeat.
I pick up my phone
and call 911
“I’m in my driveway
And my 2 year old isn’t waking up”
“She complained of a neck hurt
on our drive home from school”.
“Ma’am”, the operator tell me
“The ambulance will be there soon”.
They come in blue and red
Flashing lights on my lawn
My baby’s frail on their bed
All I hear is “Mama, my neck hurts”!
By,
Angela Archana Vincent.
Background info – my thoughts – Metronews article – 2 year old found with fractured spine, skull and neck because the nursery caretaker shook her violently.
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