Trout

The family now tells me stories of the speech therapist loudly asking me where fish live. It is now a family joke. I would like to be a rainbow trout.

When I was in the hospital

The speech therapist asked me

Where fish live.

Being in intensive care

And not focused

On fish

Or water

I did not respond.

Now I think

I would like to be

A rainbow trout

And live

In a fast-flowing

River.

Catch belt

I am thinking of buying a pastel wardrobe that matches my catch belt,

Leaving the hospital

I was gifted

With my own catch belt

As well as the walker.

I am grateful

To be caught

When I am falling

Coffee habit

Wow. Not even interested in Starbucks.

The coffee habit disappeared

In the hospital.

It has not returned.

I rather miss it.

The warmth

In my hands

Oh

I know

I can replace it

With other things,

Herbal tea

Even hot water

With lemon.

I am not ready

To replace it

Yet

With anything.

Some things take time

Right toes

My right toes are making progress, not much, but some. Coffee still smells good in the morning, but I have no desire to drink it. 

My right toes

Have begun to function

Together.

One month in the hospital

Means that coffee

No longer appeals

Not even Starbucks.

And

It is entirely possible

My life

Is reconfigured in ways

I had not planned.

Clean

I am home today, smelling the scent of clean.  Last fall we began hiring a person to come in every two weeks to clean.  She came two weeks ago, the day after my double seizure.  When my daughter picked me up from the hospital, she brought me home to clean.  Today I was home to witness the process, and experience the house being worked into cleanliness.  

The last time

I smelled the house

Like this

I walked through the front door

From the hospital.

This is my two week anniversary

Home again.

Lately

We have seen

Way too many doctors and nurses.

Still

I know so many others

Who see

So many more.

Still

The last time

I smelled the house

Like this

I arrived to it

Clean and shining

And now

Two weeks later

It has the scent of clean

Again

And I

I did not have to

Arrive from anywhere

To smell it.