Monday 23 February 2009

A Brief Meeting

Names come and go
on the wards
Only an impression lingers
long after
cheery farewells, and
"Hope to never see you back here's!"

Katrina, nurse from Belfast,
remembers me from university
Dolly, blithe spirit
"Would you believe I'm 90?"
Louise with the rare cancer
talking, without a voice box

Edna, Joan, Quiet Ann,
Women, their lives unplanned
for days like these
Days that erase
their femininity.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I am typing this from my bed at home. I have been released for now until funding can be processed for experimental monoclonal antibody therapy.
There are trees around me again! Birdsong! Fresh fruit! And all your good kind wishes that have brought me home xx
art: The Two Fridas, 1939

4 comments:

Jeannette StG said...

Hope you comments work today (yeasterday tried twice, but no luck) after your comment bout flying a kite on my blog - Do not give up Shaista, your mind rules the body - you need to hold onto the kite on which is written, "One day I will be healed."
Glad you are home and can see the trees. Dream, dream, dream, my friend, and one day your dreams will come true.

Jeannette StG said...

I see here the book "The House on Mango Street" my son was reading it and let me read it - so delightful - wish I could do poetry like she.

A Cuban In London said...

I just came back from my holidays and found that you life had been turned upside down. I have been reading your previous posts but felt I had to stop at this one and comment on your beautiful poetry again and that fantastic Frida Kahlo painting. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Unknown said...

my darling, frida has been one of my inspirations for the longest time. how fitting that you should have found her too... am guessing you have seen the movie and cried??

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