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
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
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
The alcohol prep pad on the floor
(that I picked up then and
which has traveled back home with me)
The box of wound dressing blocking the middle of the TV screen
The throw pillow cover, empty the pillow
on the stained loveseat
The package of cotton balls separated
from the half eaten bag of marshmallows
by a haphazardly placed delivery box
A stack of folded men’s PJs
with its singular neatness
and missing box that would be labeled ‘donations’
Sitting instead on a car seat
just inside the front door
when the kids are 6 and 10
The hopscotch rug
under foot
The empty planter out front
accompanied by the one full with weeds
The picture of absence
is painted by what remains
The hopscotch rug
under foot
The empty planter out front
accompanied by the one full with weeds
The picture of absence
is painted by what remains