Author Archives: Andrea Nicki

About Andrea Nicki

Andrea Nicki was born and grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She has a PhD in philosophy from Queen’s University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota. Her poems have appeared in Canadian and international journals and anthologies, such as The Brock Review, Rampike, The Goose, Philosophy Now, Magnolia: A Journal of Women’s Literature II, Women Write Their Bodies: Stories of Illness and Healing, Women and Environments International, She is Everywhere: Volume 3, Return to the Mago, and Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature. She teaches classes in professional ethics, essay writing, and poetry in Vancouver.

incested girl / Academic Dialogue

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ildikonova

Butterflies by Ildiko Nova

incested girl

room with pink walls
filled with pink things
pink accessories, clothes, shoes
dolls, toys, stuffed animals
plastic telephones, balloons, books
each item carefully arranged and displayed
a pink shrine
pink bed, bicycle, chairs, table, toy oven
toy washing machine, doll house, doll stroller
crowded against the door

 

Academic Dialogue

He wants me to listen to
his story, his pain, his ideas
but not to mine
He says, “You are cold”
I open my mouth
yes, a heavenly freezer door
a sudden frosty wind
where no words live
then quickly close it
mindful of my sweet preserves
walk away

Psychiatric Protocol

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andrea_nickiPatient reports suicidal ideation.

How often does the patient think of suicide?

1. If every day, go to question 2.

2. Does the patient have a suicide plan? If no, go to question 3. Test for personality disorder.

3. Does the patient exhibit impulsive behaviour, such as spending large sums of money? If patient says no, continue with other questions. Patient must have at least # _ of symptoms in order to be diagnosed as having a personality disorder.

4. Ask patient about sexual orientation? Is the patient sometimes confused about this?

Doctor writes: Patient says no, but is upset about this question. Complains about being compulsively drawn to bad situations “like a broken compass.” Unclear.

5. Does the patient fear abandonment?

Doctor writes: Patient starts to cry. I repeat the question. Patient is very angry. Says family abandoned her. Glares and stops talking, says doesn’t like being tested for a personality disorder,  doesn’t believe in personality disorders, finds them “demeaning and disrespectful.” Patient very uncooperative and angry. Borderline personality disorder.

From Noble Orphan (Demeter Press, 2012).