Starcrossd

what time is it?

it is she may ring by every star

she may not forever now

*

at home rather know

than feel and fell

pain it’s getting better

lovers tell

*

my daughter may ring

waiting home and fell waiting

*

someone came to me

saw me when

I fell

*

waiting for my daughter

what time is it?

it is she may ring by every star

she may not forever now


Anon
8 July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

my eyes they view the afternoon (part 2)

The living day

my eyes they view the afternoon

but when I sleep the floor

try to get up my way

the image shouts

where am I going?

I woke through heavy sleep

in hospital my rest defeat

shadow’s form to ask

everything against your nature

Lynn Holt 1^st July 2009


This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

Gammy leg

started out cellulitis

like a rash creams and lotions managed

but you know how it goes

down the leg

on the foot

then they wanted to meet

can’t remember Christmas

my leg

could sit here and cry for eternity

wouldn’t put my leg back

occasionally I forget

roundabouts

going longer between spaces

I have phantom pains

like an itch a weird sensation

I want to scratch my foot

the foot’s not there

try to master mind over matter

can’t scratch phantom pains

sometimes it works

sometimes I still forget

Anonymous 8th July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

My eyes they view the afternoon (part 1)

went down and that was it

going to make my Aunt a cup of tea

a cup of tea and went down to the floor

woke in hospital

*

try to get up

image shouts

*

where am I going?

different than a normal fall

try to get up , couldn’t shout or anything

don’t remember the brain scan

*

I woke through heavy sleep

in hospital my rest defeat

*

cry with aggravation

particularly in the early stages

can’t even get to your own wardrobe

have to ask for everything

shadow’s form to ask

everything against your nature

against your nature

always wanted to do things myself

accepted it more than to begin with

in terrible pain, chronic pain/relief

*

my eyes they view the afternoon

but when I sleep

*

get back to my Aunt

I care for and love

only the two of us

a normal quiet life, the living day.

*

Lynn Holt

1^st July 2009

the old grenadiers

you’re 96 years

thy image

an old Grenadier

at my age seem to be past doing

but these particulars are not

my measure:

overthrow 3 bad falls

oh the old Grenadiers the servants, the soldier-servants

don’t create alarms

just keep idling away

pain's

red medal round my neck

in defeat

this day I forgot

lay on the floor to the weary night

though new-fangled ill

this old dog’s prouder still

Ron Miles (Curzon) 1^st July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

Debilitated

crying
with frustration
why
don't you listen?

pain:
why d'you do this?
sometimes
cry with clenches

get up
from your wheelchair
scream
God-forgotten prayers.



Jean Cheatham
1st July 2009

Ever

a stroke: it’s like freezing a piece of meat

waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting
a cancellation
put me back again
a slight stroke
couldn’t move my arm
so I lift it with the other one
don’t let it lie dead
rub the back of your hand
keep it going

and then it’s un-frozen

waiting and
try to keep moving
haul yourself
with a walking stick
to your exercises
tried, tired and knackered
they train you, so
if you fall in the house by yourself
trapped

but only in part and some remains

waiting and
trying to open the door
try to get to the phone
try to climb a step, up four inches
(one bad leg, two arms, nothing 100%)
terrifying thinking about it
don’t think, try to
get on, to stand

on ice.

Anonymous
24-31 July 2009

the speech therapist

when my love swears that she's truth

the words come down the wrong half

we can’t - we are – learning unlearned

I do believe her, though I know she lies

in the world's false subtleties
not the half, the other we will learn to speak

although she knows my days are past the best

helpless helpless, paralysed

I credit her false-speaking tongue
it’s coming spent, it’s half through

but wherefore says she is not, she is
hard to describe

therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
it’s half through, we hope it will

BE.

Anonymous

31^st July 2009

Come back come back come back

walking:

a simple question

put it this way

once you’re in these places

they expect you to stay

til you’re better

my own children took to walking straightway

my wife in hospital expecting a child

I walked there four times that day

morning, afternoon, evening

must’ve done 40 miles

now you can’t say I’ve been a lazy person so

far as walking is concerned

put it this way

what changes is you

are seeing four walls day in

out

came here with expectations

put in here, I plunged

to where I am

now

walking:

a simple question, a simple answer

me, wheelchair

lets put it again this way

opportunity is a fine thing

a fine thing is opportunity

a pint and a half of beer a day

my doctor recommended

recommended a little village green

fields, the pub, a walk

dig the allotment

active all my life’s apprenticeship

(walking in the wood at night

by the river way

it’d make a noise like:

come back come back come back

sandpipers

on the side

oh god aye

comes to life that does)

put in here and I’m idle, a passed buck

explain that to me straight

a straight punch

tell the doctors

they will be treated in their late life

like this.

Thomas Weston

31 July 2009

Mary/Margaret

illness is change
chance
not accepting
a throw of the dice
I’m OK/you're OK
I'm going to live
you too
will not abolish illness
don’t fight
allow it in
be alright here
they’re looking after heaven's latchkey
looking after all the time
a paradise
will not abolish
see them everyday
angels
angelas
feel looked
down up/on
looked after
one of the most important things
I’m glad
Ive got
pair of dice, we
(mary margaret)
the wings to fly to heaven
well looked after
they’re doing their best
couldn’t wish a better
chance angel


Mary, Margaret
31st July 2009