Stitches and Scars

By Veronica Garrett and Martin Schimcek

This book is a compilation of poems that are drawn from the personal life experiences of the two authors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669828112

Book preview

Introduction

Stitches are obvious, and some scars are barely visible. This book contains original poetry written by myself and my long-time best friend Veronica Garrett. Stitches & Scars conveys a story about an educated man born with cerebral palsy that weighed only three pounds and five ounces when he was born into a world of dysfunctionality. He had two loving parents who were separated and never got divorced. The Father was killed by a drunk driver. I was raised by a stern but fair Mother who fought courageously but lost her battle with Colon Cancer. My family constituted seven; four brothers and three sisters whom I love dearly despite all the pain that life causes. The phrase I love you was rarely used and hardly whispered or shouted from the rooftops Writing poetry is my cathartic way of expressing the way I feel about everything that I observe around me. I have always had so many questions, that have never been answered. I am intrigued by the simple beauty of nature, things like a sunset, waves at a beach, and sunrises, or just a starlit night in a clear blue sky in Texas. This book of poetry we now share with all our family and friends, and a whole new group of poetical strangers all over the world. Veronica and I write poetry to make people think, and to inspire the underdogs, to make the impossible dream, whatever that may be, for someone a reality. I am no Hemingway or Frost. I am just a human being that writes from the heart. Stitches And Scars is our observation of the world that we live in today. We hope that our rhymes and reflective poetical imagery make us all connect and feel something deep inside. We welcome a few smiles, and a few tears along the way, so that when the last page of Stitches and Scars is read, and placed upon a nightstand somewhere, it will be read over and over again.

I am dedicating this book to my mother Josephine Schimcek and my great-niece Sarah Ghannam.

-Martin

I am proud to share my poetry with Martin. This is a journey that has been all too long in coming to fruition. We reunited as friends after 40+ years of being apart and it is like no time has passed at all. My poetry is a mix of light-hearted and deeply dark verse. I hope you will ponder it and take it for what it is, therapy for my soul. There is so much to say and so little desire to bore you with the bloody details, so I let my poetry do it for me in a condensed way. May you, the reader, allow the verses to touch your own soul, if you are inspired to do so.

I dedicate this book to my Aunt Linda who has always been a kind soul and indulged my artistic endeavors and to my Uncle Chris who has shown me, unconditional love.

-Veronica

STITCHES

By Martin Schimcek

Stitches And Scars

Imagine a child only weighing

A mere three pounds and five ounces.

The doctor says that the "next twelve hours

Will be critical for him."

A year passes, then two

And then five.

As the poverty parents realize

That their son will need special care

And several surgeries.

To actually take steps on beautiful Mother Earth.

A bundle of metal and leather

And straps, and so many shoe strings

For him to lace and tie.

In a body cast now for 53 long and hot

Texas summer days.

With second grade yet another hurdle to achieve.

Now freed from that smelly yellow-stained cast

Three months of extensive physical therapy await him.

Finally, two tiny skinny legs and feet, touch the floor

To go and explore the world at their own pace.

Then two relapses came, and

The Doctor said that he may never walk again!

Those stitches and scars never gave up or gave in to the pain.

Six months...

Slowly passed, and through faith and hope

And motherly love,

Stitches and scars started walking once again.

To walk across all those graduation stages...

And to discover his true passion or niche

To write many poetical and heart-felt pages.

Stitches and