Recovery

RECOVERY
thistle in may

Take your medication strictly as prescribed

better than feeling ill: flowers
things to look forward to
snowdrops, daffodils dancing
meet your friends again, crocuses beginning
when a person starts to be well
trees take a spring interest
life’s worth living, the sky blooms lighter
altogether more day, always glad
when the February war is over
it wasn’t a bit charming summer’s on its way
in the distance

Continue with any exercises shown to you in hospital by therapists or medical staff

got rheumatism and going blind?
start to throw your woollies off
if there’s any snow left
throw welcome snowballs
keep getting well
english weather do your best
unreliable wet cold miserable
if winter’s here
spring cant be far behind
have to wait and see
‘what the hell’s happened to me?’
that rush towards the remember

Don't remove any dressings until instructed

it’s a slow process all the flowers
waking up caution restricts
the tulip field
no speed records broken
snowdrops the first
birds and buds
the worst thing is to rely on others
the trees blessing daffodils
the light, a relief
a relief (the darling)
it comes slowly
birds come alive, start taking notice
everything again tweeting the dawn
outside your window the spring marvels
trees flower views
springcleaning comes to mind at
the mere sight
passover the shade
the fantastic cobweb

If you are unsure of any factor relating to your convalescence, don't hesitate to contact your doctor

pour with light through the body
you squirm god I’m coming to life
the excitement: seize the sun
the sky-blue, the buttercups
bulbs looking for light
take your part in the human race

Attend all your check-ups

cut a thistle in may
the dancing season has started
fabulous is the word for it
lots of little flowers pink and jump
lamb pasture
cut it in june itll be back soon
blooms as big as cabbageheads

(Follow all dietary recommendations)

jump for joy after drear winter
get on with things
where are we
going?
it is so rewarding to fill a bare patch
with dancing.

speak poem
Feb 2009


Further info, from Better Health Channel website, Victorian Department of Human Services, Australia
During convalescence, it may be beneficial to set goals for each day which will aid in your recovery. Be guided by your doctor, but general suggestions include:

* Too much bed rest in most cases isn't good for you, particularly if you are elderly. Maintain some level of activity, even if it means just sitting or standing up occasionally. Try getting dressed and moving around the house if possible.
* Ensure your muscles, heart and lungs are working efficiently by gradually increasing your level of activity each day.
* Make sure you get enough rest. Listen to your body and alternate periods of activity with periods of relaxation. Be prepared to say 'no' to things you can't cope with and visitors you don't want to see.
*Keep in touch with family and friends and maintain your social activity, even by telephone.
* Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. If your appetite is poor, try eating small amounts of nutritious foods regularly. Remember that eating well is more important than eating more.
* As your strength returns, find time to do things you enjoy. Keep up with hobbies and aim to get out of the house regularly, even for short outings.

Everyone has the right to be remembered

you have
more freedom when
you are away
but

the nurses put a limit

the atmosphere every year in
Wales Rhyll Llandudno or the Algarve
the pleasure to stop and go
a wideopen space, a beachfront
the smell is held
contained by things that are a pleasure
to eat doughnuts are sweet
pleasure constantly

cant look after myself proper

constantly seabirds on the headland
suspect or suggest the memory of places
a tram or a train from base to top
do and say what you want
a change of scenery

you’ve got to have someone to help
control

tremors
two shakes of a lambs tail to get to Llandudno
to get away to get home
you look around and see dust
look back and think I was doing such a thing
donkeys years in holiday camps
in tents men on one side women the other
the bane of my wife’s desire
the cheese was very

hard pleasure of these idle days


conversation poem
cherry tree hospital 2009

For the peace of you

And for the peace of you I hold such strife
Now counting best to be with you alone
sometime all full with feasting on your sight
then do I pine and surfeit day by day


anon
2008

The Giant City Awakes

The giant city awakes but
I am going down the pan
I have lied and cheated
my way through life
truth breaks through


anon 2008

Descant

find it
very noisy all the time too
much for me

different atmospheres
atom
spheres
this breathing world
different wards give and take
we rely on each other
institutionalised

there’s going to be needles

they’re kind but
haven’t a lot of time
if somebody gives a bit of hello
gets the day going on nicer

don’t like noise too much
during my stay there’s been a record on
day and night
can’t get it out of my head
hear it almost constantly
nobody else seems to be able to
hear it

only me
hear it almost constantly confuses
me it does confuse me
daytime and night-time
you take me home

there’s going to be needles

one thing leads to another with people
they’re all a little tale to tell
they’re lonely
time that’s the stumble-block
do a little chitchat in between
time
it brings things on a bit

Grace Smith/Mavis Skillington
2008

A pox of this

gout is a condition that causes pain, inflammation and swelling in one or more of the joints. It usually affects the big toe, but can develop in any joint in

in here about four weeks
terrible state I was
knees useless
getting out of bed
wife standing by
couldn’t stop me flying
get paramedics
help me to stand
gentle s-l-i-d-e to the floor
didn’t bother me
knew I’d get up one day
wife not strong enough
(amazing how strong she is)
she was calm

often occurs in attacks that usually last for three to 10 days, after which the joint should feel normal and pain-free again. The attacks are almost impossible to predict and, if

‘if you go down
…’


just slide
gout inflammation of the blood
into the legs
try to pump them out
put a tube down the leg
and suck on it
not painful

not treated, can cause future attacks to be more frequent and last for longer

lack of power
most difficult getting to
the toilet
a gout of this pox





Gerald Manley
/Shakespeare/NHS Choices website
31st October 2008

A Robin Red Breast

A robin red breast
in a cage


Harry Wantling
2008

part of the Brackenhurst Collection

In Profuse Strains

In profuse strains of unpremeditated art
these things don't leave you because you are young and very impressionable
(because they are so unexpected)


anon
2008
part of the Brackenhurst Collection.

I will arise and go now

I will arise and go now, And go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and
wattles made:
I would enjoy myself much more if
you were able to join me. So the next
time you have this precious commodity perhaps
it can be arranged.

anon
2008

From the poem/postcard series Brackenhurst

The Trees

The trees are in their Autumn beauty
someone is thinking of you.



Rennie Venus
2008

Part of the Brackenhurst Collection.

Skint-send cheque

Harry Wantling
2008 

Part of the Brackenhurst series, postcards kindly provided by Sam French

The Bees Knees

When I was fourteen
my sister who was sixteen
took me to C&A who had
just opened and bought
me a coat and hat for £1
later I went to shop on-my-own
and bought a coat with a big
fur collar and one of my
older sisters made me take
it back. My husband bought
me a fox fur which I wore with
a short red jacket. Black skirt
and black hat on the side of my
head. I thought I was bees knees



Hilda Hewitt
2008

Sitting looking out

sitting looking out
the windowaiting
for them to come
hurry up
hurry up
minutes
hours
days
it seems
forever


Pauleen Eaton
2007

Musciality

sounds
bring something out of you
like an old fashioned train

get to a certain age
and you get walked over
the heart sounds are drowned

a revving up engine
something about sounds you can distinguish
pieces of sound

snap shots
pictures on a heartbeat
over the clavicle

that’s a normal heartbeat
a rough murmur
a train going along a welded rail

diddley dee
how does your heart sound?
ah diddley da

the drum in my ear
jungle drums
a steam train

how does your heart
sound
when it’s aching?


Collaboration
Marlhill Court, Stockport
23rd February 2007

Sycamore Road

when I were three my father came out the army
he was a baddun a baddun
he followed my mother and he killed her
he follows my mother and he kills her
I got married lost my husband early
we suffered survived through it
my brother were like me ginger hair
I got nobody but I got friends we all entertain
my father ginger tall slim
red hair like me before the war
small and pleasant she took us he
I’ve never forgot it I survived with it
haven’t suffered with it I’ve plenty friends
I have a photo a nasty piece
my father was hanged I was three
a good life aunty turned me out like a queen
I can cheer anyone I’m not bragging
three ministers come to see me t’other day
relies on me friends Wood Lane Church
on a Sunday all get together plenty neighbours
one that won’t give up perseverance
a nice little flat ground floor
give me
a knock come in
good neighbours all to look in
open door Sycamore Road
there’ll be some gathering
(on a Friday have a cream cake and if we don’t
have a vanilla slice)
it sticks in my mind








Alice W
2007

Me Golden

I don’t know that I could look back
at me
shingles cut like boys pageboys

a very nice child
to grow up with
naturally
mostly
if I wanted to do a
thing I would do it

(parted my hair in several different places, that’s what hair’s for)

I’ve not much else to wish for

always the belle of the ball went to a dance always dancing all ways well-dressed always dancing not a lot else to do in my day dance bands danced

one girl was in love with my dance clothes
she tried to buy them off me

a golden colour

groomed and gold

a bit of Pond’s Cream for a nice complexion
it kept me from the vultures



Nora Brumham
2006

G a d a r e n e

where are all these wars coming?
manners pigs have none
they’ll snort at anything
feel sorry for a pig
pigchildren throw things at
pigdevils run into ditches and
the side of mountains
pigchildren never alter
born evil as ever
grow into men putting the world
through hell
still as long as we come through the
n e v e r m i n d
born with it toddlers’ll
shake their fist off
legs ready to kick
the nazi kids they loved
s q u a b b l e s
can’t annihilate one from t’other:
men from women come hateful
some people are good but it’s a
question of whether they’re let
we always get through always seem to
manage always to forget
but then you get your wars (where
are all these wars coming?)
crueller they are the
more they like it stand watching
cruelty ‘til the day they die
themselves in poor-ness
manners pigs have none
they have teeth and they’re
w i d e
come through the nevermind
into the small world
we’re the ones who have no
money make fights
in wars united
where are all these wars coming
?
we always seem to get on
to forget to overlook it to start new lives to
f o r g e t
t h a t ’s i t s e t t l e d
anditstopped



anon
2008

Amputation

(I’m not depressed but)

I was am
putated
that made a difference
cos I’m reliant
I have good glasses
hearing aid
amput
ation was the worst thing
that’s happened
I’ve got no dates

to rely on
in somewhere like this

the way of life
don’t get as many visitors
the way of
sedentary
dependent
life
adjust slowly
am puttee
(they’re very good to you here
I’m not stopping)
lived alone since
father died
long time ago can’t
think when
it’s terrible don’t think
I’ve got it written
I’ve not written when people
left

I’ve no dates
just addresses

– even got phone numbers –
that don’t mean any
thing to me

(I can’t even remember why you’re here)

the worst was

it slows up gradually
a cold fish cold

I’ll have to ask
never thought to make a note
gosh I can’t remember
(when did the war finish?)

I think my mother died
and I don’t think I’ve got a diary with
those dates
started and
retired gosh
– wait
I’ll get my diary
I’ve not got any dates at all
none that matter.

(I can't even remember why you're here)


Anonymous
2006

Amputation

(I’m not depressed but)

I was am
putated
that made a difference
cos I’m reliant
I have good glasses
hearing aid
amput
ation was the worst thing
that’s happened
I’ve got no dates

to rely on
in somewhere like this

the way of life
don’t get as many visitors
the way of
sedentary
dependent
life
adjust slowly
am puttee
(they’re very good to you here
I’m not stopping)
lived alone since
father died
long time ago can’t
think when
it’s terrible don’t think
I’ve got it written
I’ve not written when people
left

I’ve no dates
just addresses

– even got phone numbers –
that don’t mean any
thing to me

(I can’t even remember why you’re here)

the worst was

it slows up gradually
a cold fish cold

I’ll have to ask
never thought to make a note
gosh I can’t remember
(when did the war finish?)

I think my mother died
and I don’t think I’ve got a diary with
those dates
started and
retired gosh
– wait
I’ll get my diary
I’ve not got any dates at all
none that matter.

(I can't even remember why you're here)


Anonymous
2006