Poem: "Taking Care of Things"
Aug. 3rd, 2017 10:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the July 4, 2017 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from redsixwing, Deacon, curiosity, alatefeline, kengr, sweet_sparrow, technoshaman, callibr8, mdlbear, chanter_greenie, helgatwb, and elf. It also fills the "taking care of somebody" square in my 6-16-17 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hc_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Rook from Antisocialites. It belongs to the Iron Horses thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
"Taking Care of Things"
The four days following
Kenzie's inadvertent Sun Dance
were terrible and wonderful for him.
The Iron Horses stuck close by his side
all the day that they found him
and the night afterward.
Kenzie slept through most of
the first evening and night, but
he woke up at odd intervals.
It didn't matter. The Iron Horses
took care of him anyhow.
Ron washed Kenzie's hair
a fingerwidth at a time, combed it
and oiled it, then finally wove it into
a sleek braid over his shoulder.
Joseph helped Kenzie shift
from one position to another.
Kenzie had learned the hard way
not to try doing that by himself yet.
Ben came back with the prescriptions,
which helped a lot, and he also changed
the bandages when they needed it.
Blair shooed the men away
and gave Kenzie a sponge bath
to get the blood and dust off of
his skin so he wouldn't itch.
Then she offered him a choice of
lotion. "I can ask Ron for some of his
if you want it to match the hair oil, but
that one has arnica which is astringent
instead of moisturizing," Blair said. "Mine
is clary sage and violet leaf in shea butter."
"Yours is fine," Kenzie said. "Thanks
for taking care of me like this."
"It's no trouble. If we were at home,
I could offer you the blue chamomile and
lavender in jojoba -- I have the whole line --
but I only carry a travel bottle of the lotion
when I'm on the road," said Blair.
"It's okay," Kenzie said. "I've never
tried that kind of lotion anyway."
Blair flipped open the bottle of
sage lotion and started smoothing it
over Kenzie's skin. "They're all good,
really," she said. "Speaking of home,
I talked with my parents. They would
like to meet you, if that appeals."
"Yeah," Kenzie said softly.
"From what you've told me,
they sound like great people.
I wish I had parents that nice,
but mine kind of suck."
"Mine are wonderful, and I'm
happy to share them with you,"
Blair said. "You wouldn't be
the first of my two-spirit friends
to latch onto them, and it's
likely to be mutual."
"That sounds so good,"
Kenzie said wistfully. He
enjoyed the feel of Blair's hands
slowly sweeping over his body.
"Blazing Grass said that we shouldn't
move you too soon," Blair said. "Give
yourself another day or two to heal,
and then we can ride out."
"And go where?" Kenzie said.
"I don't have anyone to stay with."
He had been couchsurfing with friends,
but he didn't have anything lined up right now --
or the energy to make the calls to find it.
"You have us now," Blair said firmly.
"The Iron Horses have kin all over
the plains and up into Canada."
"S'nice," Kenzie mumbled.
He wished his family was like that.
"We could put you up at any one of
our reservations," Blair said, "but my folks
offered first, so unless you hate the idea,
we should head over to Rocky Boy's."
Kenzie wasn't used to having
anyone else taking care of things
for him, but Blair's tender hands
and soft voice were so captivating.
"Mmmhmm," Kenzie said. He was
falling asleep under her gentle touch.
"Get some rest," Blair said.
"We can talk more in the morning."
Kenzie took her advice.
* * *
Notes:
Washing hair in bed is a useful skill.
Native American hair oil is part of traditional practices. Ron's has sage and arnica.
A sponge bath can replace a regular water bath for someone who shouldn't submerge or in the wilderness where water is scarce. In Kenzie's case, fresh injuries should be kept out of water until securely knitted, to avoid loosening the scabs and reopening the wounds. Learn how to give a sponge bath.
Sage and violet leaf in shea butter is a nourishing body lotion. Sage and arnica is a bit more astringent.
Blue chamomile is helpful for soothing superpowers. Blue chamomile and lavender in jojoba makes a body lotion that is relaxing without being soporific. And yes, it works much the same on psychic abilities if you need something soothing.
Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana is a federal reservation of the Chippewa Cree tribe.
redsixwing, Deacon, curiosity, alatefeline, kengr, sweet_sparrow, technoshaman, callibr8, mdlbear, chanter_greenie, helgatwb, and elf. It also fills the "taking care of somebody" square in my 6-16-17 card for the hc_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Rook from Antisocialites. It belongs to the Iron Horses thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. "Taking Care of Things"
The four days following
Kenzie's inadvertent Sun Dance
were terrible and wonderful for him.
The Iron Horses stuck close by his side
all the day that they found him
and the night afterward.
Kenzie slept through most of
the first evening and night, but
he woke up at odd intervals.
It didn't matter. The Iron Horses
took care of him anyhow.
Ron washed Kenzie's hair
a fingerwidth at a time, combed it
and oiled it, then finally wove it into
a sleek braid over his shoulder.
Joseph helped Kenzie shift
from one position to another.
Kenzie had learned the hard way
not to try doing that by himself yet.
Ben came back with the prescriptions,
which helped a lot, and he also changed
the bandages when they needed it.
Blair shooed the men away
and gave Kenzie a sponge bath
to get the blood and dust off of
his skin so he wouldn't itch.
Then she offered him a choice of
lotion. "I can ask Ron for some of his
if you want it to match the hair oil, but
that one has arnica which is astringent
instead of moisturizing," Blair said. "Mine
is clary sage and violet leaf in shea butter."
"Yours is fine," Kenzie said. "Thanks
for taking care of me like this."
"It's no trouble. If we were at home,
I could offer you the blue chamomile and
lavender in jojoba -- I have the whole line --
but I only carry a travel bottle of the lotion
when I'm on the road," said Blair.
"It's okay," Kenzie said. "I've never
tried that kind of lotion anyway."
Blair flipped open the bottle of
sage lotion and started smoothing it
over Kenzie's skin. "They're all good,
really," she said. "Speaking of home,
I talked with my parents. They would
like to meet you, if that appeals."
"Yeah," Kenzie said softly.
"From what you've told me,
they sound like great people.
I wish I had parents that nice,
but mine kind of suck."
"Mine are wonderful, and I'm
happy to share them with you,"
Blair said. "You wouldn't be
the first of my two-spirit friends
to latch onto them, and it's
likely to be mutual."
"That sounds so good,"
Kenzie said wistfully. He
enjoyed the feel of Blair's hands
slowly sweeping over his body.
"Blazing Grass said that we shouldn't
move you too soon," Blair said. "Give
yourself another day or two to heal,
and then we can ride out."
"And go where?" Kenzie said.
"I don't have anyone to stay with."
He had been couchsurfing with friends,
but he didn't have anything lined up right now --
or the energy to make the calls to find it.
"You have us now," Blair said firmly.
"The Iron Horses have kin all over
the plains and up into Canada."
"S'nice," Kenzie mumbled.
He wished his family was like that.
"We could put you up at any one of
our reservations," Blair said, "but my folks
offered first, so unless you hate the idea,
we should head over to Rocky Boy's."
Kenzie wasn't used to having
anyone else taking care of things
for him, but Blair's tender hands
and soft voice were so captivating.
"Mmmhmm," Kenzie said. He was
falling asleep under her gentle touch.
"Get some rest," Blair said.
"We can talk more in the morning."
Kenzie took her advice.
* * *
Notes:
Washing hair in bed is a useful skill.
Native American hair oil is part of traditional practices. Ron's has sage and arnica.
A sponge bath can replace a regular water bath for someone who shouldn't submerge or in the wilderness where water is scarce. In Kenzie's case, fresh injuries should be kept out of water until securely knitted, to avoid loosening the scabs and reopening the wounds. Learn how to give a sponge bath.
Sage and violet leaf in shea butter is a nourishing body lotion. Sage and arnica is a bit more astringent.
Blue chamomile is helpful for soothing superpowers. Blue chamomile and lavender in jojoba makes a body lotion that is relaxing without being soporific. And yes, it works much the same on psychic abilities if you need something soothing.
Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana is a federal reservation of the Chippewa Cree tribe.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-08-04 04:53 am (UTC)OTOH, that first time being able to shower without help felt pretty darn good too, both physically and emotionally. :)
He'll get there.
Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-04 05:05 am (UTC)That's good to hear. A sponge bath can be wonderful pampering, or outright abuse, depending on the skill of the caregiver and whether the recipient is willing.
>>He'll get there.<<
True. Kenzie is healing well. He should be able to wash normally before too much longer.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-08-04 05:09 am (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2017-08-04 05:24 am (UTC)He really is.
>> I don't mean just Blair's folks, but a whole community. And rest...zzzzzzz <<
:D Oh, just wait until you see where he winds up after this temporary stop.
Re: Yes...
Date: 2017-08-04 02:46 pm (UTC)purrrr
Date: 2017-08-07 11:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2017-08-08 03:01 am (UTC)And surprise after finding out that blue chamomile is a local thing too. Google says it's a variety of German chamomile, but I don't think anyone here's seen it before.
- Lance
Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-08 03:17 am (UTC)Yay!
>> Something about secondhand healthy touch? <<
That happens with a lot of my writing.
>>And surprise after finding out that blue chamomile is a local thing too. Google says it's a variety of German chamomile, but I don't think anyone here's seen it before.<<
Yep. Blue chamomile has a similar soothing effect on psychic abilities as it does on superpowers.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-08 03:56 am (UTC)The signs of an amazing writer! If I had flowers I'd throw a few.
>> Blue chamomile has a similar soothing effect on psychic abilities as it does on superpowers. <<
Man. Maybe we should try to get some for Nobody. His empath stuff goes haywire sometimes. Or MC and Captor for their weird headaches.
- Lance
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-08 04:12 am (UTC)Thank you! :D
>> Blue chamomile has a similar soothing effect on psychic abilities as it does on superpowers.
Man. Maybe we should try to get some for Nobody. His empath stuff goes haywire sometimes. Or MC and Captor for their weird headaches. <<
Absolutely worth trying for both of those things. Blue chamomile is good for settling powers that are out of control.
For empathy, you may also want to try "Shield in a Bottle." I actually helped develop the first version of this when I was in college, and that's what I called it. The official name is Protection.
For headaches, those caused by overstrain or other mystical problems often don't respond to conventional treatments. Blue chamomile often works when nothing else will, or for some people, nerfs the problem enough for other things to help.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-08 07:35 pm (UTC)I messaged Nobody and the others with a link so they can have it for next time. Thank you!
- Lance
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2017-08-09 03:14 am (UTC)