Wednesday 26 August 2009

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/

Friday 21 August 2009

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 1st July 2009


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

Thursday 20 August 2009

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
1st 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) 1st July 2009


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

Thursday 13 August 2009

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

Wednesday 12 August 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

Friday 7 August 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
31st July 2009

Thursday 6 August 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