From Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

…for when a moment arrives that is so much feared and so long waited, it perforates the veil of everyday expectation in such a way as to reveal the prodigious darkness of the unknown.

How to Survive, Week 3

Falter

The halting, arresting, hitch

comes back

The nausea

comes back

Sleep continues to be

erratic

Moods too

despite what feels like

every effort

You’re not your best

Holding onto/Dreading

The past/future

Try to be present

Falter but try

You’re not worse

for trying

Nothing’s the worst

for trying

We would not be here

but for trying

How to Survive, Week 2 Edition

Brush your teeth

Make a plan

Tell people

Accept help

Start sleeping through nights

Participate in a group exercise

Cook for the family

Cook at all

Remember to eat

Tidy up

Wash dishes

Put away clean laundry

at least one drawerful

Reduce waste

Compost

Remember that the heavy hearted feeling

is less

Note the healing of the blister from

your court shoes

Email the lawyer

Make a point out of your silver linings

Take a breath

Look forward

How to Survive

Drink water

Unclench your jaw

Take a deep breath

Take several

Be unoriginal

Reach out to someone you need

Check in on someone who may need you

Go to sleep

Get up

Keep drinking water

Keep breathing