Ode To A Stroke, Or A Life Altered
By Dick Taylor
December 26, 2013
I was moving forward at a pace,
In this life called the human race,
With strength and purpose and resolved,
And little thought to how we evolve.
How simple it has been to ambulate,
My legs stride out with a steady gait,
Effortlessly in motion with no command,
To walk, to run, to sit or stand.
My arms reach and carry,
And hug and tote,
And accomplish tasks,
As if by rote.
And oh! My hands!
They grasp and cling and digitize,
Fingers point, Aha!
As I discover and realize.
How astonishing our bodies,
Intricate machines to behold,
Easily functioning,
Without being told!
Until…..that nightmarish instant,
Unforeseen, unexpected, unwarranted, unfair,
When an explosion of cranial havoc,
Renders me motionless and unaware.
I look at my lifeless arm,
I tell my hand to grip, to clasp,
And wonder why it won’t respond
Nothing works, “my God!” I gasp!
Minutes ago I was hearty and hale,
Now I lie here, wane and pale,
Feeling alone in my solitude,
Facing uncertainty and rectitude.
But….life goes on, I will survive,
I am told to work, I am alive,
Does anyone know how angry I feel,
Depressed, in pain, a long time to heal?
My life has been altered,
Run down from behind,
I could not see it coming,
So disabling and unkind.
So…where do I go from here?
How do I rebuild my whole?
When imbalance and weakness,
And heartache assault my very soul?
God answers these fears directly,
He dispatches people who care,
Angels to push and train and
Encourage me in my physical repair.
Time and patience and persistence,
Offer recovery I am sure,
And Faith that I will mend,
Determined to find my cure!
