Last Edited Health Poems (5)

A clock ticks, recording time never to return
Disappearing for ever, like photos that burn
Was time wasted, or are memories retained
Brining smiles, not tears representing rain

I recall as a child, everyone seemed old
In youth I was shy, not strong and bold
In Maturity I'm more confident, in control
Still feeling youthful, certainly never dull

Attitude is ours, to nurture and own
Comes with experience, of seeds sown
With many life options, we must decide
Hopefully we asked, for the wise to guide

Final choices are ours... it just has to be
Never blame others, into the future see
Being brave at times, can make us strong
As admitting in hindsight, if we was wrong

Learning from mistakes, acceptable in life
Whether good or bad, can lead to strife
Character building, inner strength can grow
Good people are important, you'll by now know

Some you can trust, others you must not
Never regret the process, join every dot
Those who make you sad, will pull you down
Remember smiles are important, not a frown

So as you mature, there are experiences leant
Emotional bridges, can so easily be burnt
Find what makes you happy, enjoy each day
Age isn't so bad, pick choices wisely ...
or health will pay.

Staunch message to all, delivered with stealth,
A wise old proverb..."Your health is your wealth",
Terrified at the start, thought I wouldn't pull through,
Began penning a verse, for my pulpit adieu,
Bruised and depleted from chemo injections,
A pale hairless body fuelled naked reflections,
Such penetrating fear in my children's eyes,
As I hid the truth, in my happy disguise,
Strangely I decided for me I'd not weep,
Instead to find courage, my spade to dig deep,
Never to lose hope or Never to give in,
No more thoughts of ending, only begin,
Not 'till all glimmers of life have long ceased,
And my rancid remains lie a cold crawling feast,
Even then my spirit will survive in a poem,
My soul still intact through the verses will roam,
You'll never hear me whinge or show any regret,
Nor will I celebrate, if reprieve I beget,
Defiant yet resinged in ankle chains to be...
Always cancer's prisoner, ....but today I walked free !

In-person meetings suspended
Conference rooms closed to use
By keeping a 6-foot distance
everyone stays apart—not aloof.

Blues, folk, rock concerts rescheduled
Museums closed to showing art
Theatre not performed on stages
Citizens asked to do their part.

Flattening-the-curve approach required
But when our leaders fail to lead
people are driven to poor decisions
and takers feed upon their greed.

Shelves in stores stripped to empty
Essentials horded, stock-piled away
Preparing for the worst to come
Hoping to be spared anew each day.

Public schools closed until April
Red Sox Opening Day postponed
Weighing decisions to self-isolate
with every day to be spent alone.

Boston Marathon moved to September
Walk for Hunger canceled complete
Needs in air still hover, linger though
movement ceased beneath our feet.

With tents as makeshift hospital wards
first-come-first-served policy goes out the door
Triage decisions necessary to be made
disproportionally impact the poor.

Forego cavalier, casual attitudes
Avoid need for imminent, acute care
There are vulnerable people everywhere
Covid-19 travels through touch and air.

Individual freedom temporarily bartered
to provide better protection for everyone
Embrace physical-distancing as one way
war against this pandemic can be won.

© 2020-03-14

Your speaking to the only (?) person on the planet that had fun having a stroke. Ten years ago I went out one January morning to blow snow. My neighbor was usually an early bird had not done his driveway or walks yet. I figured he wasn't feeling well and blew his driveway and sidewalks, then just started mine and got REAL tired, didn't know why, now I do. When one uses a snow blower you push it and when done you turn it off, get behind it, throw your arms behind you and grab the handle to pull it where you store it. Turned the machine off, got behind and threw my left arm over and grabbed the handle, then threw my right arm over three times and realized my arm was paralyzed, knew what was happening and went in the house to call my ex-wife and COULD NOT utter any kind sound from my mouth. As I was waiting for EMS to come I did some thinking. Knew nothing about stokes, other than they suck and you don't want one. So at that point I "accepted" (very powerful word) what was going on, knowing if one fights for something they cannot fix you only wind up hurting yourself mentality. So I figured what was done is done. I felt no fear or scariness. I did have facial muscles and could smile. I'm right handed and was joking with the EMS guys with my left hand on paper. Did gain my voice and arm back, within 3 hours, BUT I lost an average of 22% of my short term memory which can be a bugger, when you know it.