Monday, May 10, 2010

Mag Pie Tales - Inner Eye


Prismatic worm-like segments floated at the periphery of his vision. Closing his eyes, he hoped it would be different this time around but deep inside he knew nothing would change. Instinctively, he grabbed the fatty tissue between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand with the thumb and forefinger of his right and squeezed. He knew his pressure points and hoped this might at least be the preemptive strike he needed. A temporary reprieve.

He slowed his heart rate as best he could, but while the rhythmic pounding slowed it seemed louder and more exaggerated with every pulse and the floating segments burst into brighter colors with the cadence of the beat.

He pressed his hand tighter moving it slightly to find the most tense part of the muscle in his hand. "Please stop," he pleaded silently to no God in particular.

Pound-Flash. Pound-Flash. Pound-Flash. It continued in simultaneous bursts. He tried to imagine it was his own personal fireworks show. Spinning the most positive thought he could to make light of the coming storm.

He wanted to bury his head. Flee to total darkness but it was impossible in cube town where heads popped up in random succession, voices drifted overhead like low lying thunder clouds and fluorescent lights buzzed like bees stirred from their hive. Instead he squeezed open his eyes to peer out the tunnel his vision had become only to see his supervisor hovering over him with "that look" on his face again.

"Nap time, Emery?" came the voice with a sound like the whine of metal gears grinding in a worn out transmission.

"Just computer eye strain," was the weakened reply. He knew only one thing that would cure his malady. His inner eye had been telling me for weeks. "Get a new job. One you love and makes you feel fulfilled," it would say.

One day he would listen.

23 comments:

Caty said...

sometimes your inner eye knows best. sometimes our outer ones just refuse to see it. Great magpie

Anonymous said...

I could hear "Every Day is Exactly The Same", just reading between the lines in this one.

Fierce word picture you've painted.

Brian Miller said...

listen...and hopefully the economy cooperates...feel for you friend...

Katherine said...

I hope that your inner eye .. shows you clearly what you need!
And as Brian says, I hope & pray, that life circumstances will & can allow it to happen.
We have one life & you Monkey Man, deserve to enjoy it & be happy!!! A great, insightful post into your spirit!

Tess Kincaid said...

A poignant peek inside your inner eye.

Coffeypot said...

Listen to the inner eye before it's too late for the outter eye.

or stay off the LSD.

Green-Eyed Momster said...

"he grabbed the fatty tissue between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand with the thumb and forefinger of his right and squeezed. He knew his pressure points and hoped this might at least be the preemptive strike he needed. A temporary reprieve."

That's what I do when I'm having a natural home-birth or getting a tattoo. I'm not kidding you.


???

joanna said...

That is a horrible feeling being trapped it reminds me of the movie Joe versus the Volcano -- When an average man living a thoroughly unfulfilling life is diagnosed with a terminal disease he quits his job and accepts a millionaire's odd offer -- to travel to a south seas island and sacrifice himself to a volcano. Odd but touching -- If this is a true magpie tale and it is how you are feeling I do hope you get to change your job without sacrificing your self..

Either way a very good tale indeed Monkey man.
Joanny

Dianne said...

euwww, you have a way of describing it, even without the image prompt.

The connection applies to anyone pushed beyond their limits.

How you seamlessly sew the physical sensation with the workers expression with the metaphoric Big Brother.... geeze, your job under-utilizes your creative talents....

hope your boss doesnt read this! Ha!

Tabor said...

I have been there and you captured the moment exactly!

Lyn said...

Good advice for all of us..inner eye!!!

Enchanted Oak said...

You're good at achieving immediate suspense (What's going on?) and maintaining it until you finally slap us upside the head with something else entirely. You made me think it was a migraine problem. Good creative writing. Hope it ain't a portrait of your true circumstances. If it is, bless you on your search.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

our inner eye is out sixth sense,
which plays a key role in our life,
what profound magpie!
Happy Tuesday!
Thanks for the added favor!

Deb said...

My inner eye screamed at me back in 2002 while sitting in my cubical having a panic attack. I finally passed out and they had an ambulance take me away for insurance reasons, of course. I told them it wasn't a heart attack, that it was just a panic attack. But I kept getting them frequently. My long leave of absence finally heard my inner eye. I started writing. I started projects. I became who I wanted to be. Although it doesn't pay as much as my cushy little cubical job, it fulfills me in life...and that's what matters, right?

Loved loved LOVED this post, especially how it was written. Brilliant!

Tumblewords: said...

The inner eye wins again - a wonderful read with vivid imagery. Enjoyed it.

Maude Lynn said...

This is very cool!

Unknown said...

Brilliant story of the inner eye...and oh how I feel it's pain.

"i want a job, I want a job, I want a real job, I want a job, one that satisfies, my artistic needs" ...Sid and Nancy (MOVIE quote.)

gabi

the walking man said...

A new job or more potent drugs.

Unknown said...

WOW..an EXCELLENT MAGPIE!
You got to take care of you..
I was bracing for something...
Mine is here
Have you a great week, MM!
hugs
shakira

moondustwriter said...

Yes the inner eye and the whole being needs a change in venue

nice one MM
get some rest I'm noticing your eyes look a little squinty

Evalinn said...

Which reminds me to listen to my own inner eye! Great story!

Janna said...

Ooh, I like this.
It reminds me of my migraines.

(Hate the migraines, love the story.)

The picture kinda freaked me out.
Gahh! Glistening eyeball! It's like a cross between Surrealist art and something you'd see in an optometrist's office.

Nice. :)

Marla said...

Yes!