Poem on Brain Injury Recovery
July 20th, 2010 |
Categories: Brain Injury Survivor Support Forum, Poetry and Fiction |
3 Comments |
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As I Recover…
By Mary C. Cantwell And Michael R. Grego
As I recover, change is a constant in my life.
Some changes occur quickly, in a quite precise manner,
as I attempt to return to my former state of health.
Other changes come forth very slowly.
They may take a little bit more time
which is not always to my liking.
All the changes in my life have taken my time
and hard work to make it through.
My own memories are as clear as day to me.
Some people I know tell me otherwise.
Is my mind playing a joke on my consciousness?
Is this the comedic role I’m given in my life?
I guess what makes me the angriest is
when people won’t ‘get’ exactly what I tell them.
They misunderstand the meaning of what I say.
They choose not to take it in
or “view” the circumstances or situations the way I see it,
from my personal perspective.
I actually accept the new me in my mind situations,
hands down!
The new physical me is a completely different matter.
I would rather rewind the movie of my life
and go back to the way I was
before the consequential circumstance that
changed my life forever.
Therefore I’ve accepted my fate
although I will do anything to change the course or the track
that my life has chosen at this point in time.
Before my accident I felt I had the power
to control the way my life would go.
When I first became aware of the changes in me,
I knew I had completely lost that control.
Now I only go where ‘the chair’ takes me.
I don’t like not being in control of my own life.
It’s not a comfortable feeling.
I am not the same Michael as I used to be.
Yet, I am the same Michael.
For more poems by Mary and Michael see:
By Mary C. Cantwell and Micahel R. Grego
If you look it up in the dictionary, it will tell you that ‘musing’ means:
• noun: a calm lengthy intent consideration
• adjective: persistently or morbidly thoughtful; pensive; pondering
My name is Tony McNally poet and Falklands War veteran, who has PTSD. As you know over the years over 300 veterans from the Falklands War have taken their own lives due to their mental health. More than were killed fighting in the War. I have found that writing poetry has helped ,me in a big way and I would advise others to try and write things down. I am publishing a book of poetry and personal stories to help raise funds for a UK mental health charity TALKING2MINDS http://www.talking2minds.co.uk/ started by SAS veteran Bob Paxman, I am trying to change the way people view combat veterans mental health issues and remove any stigma. There are lots of poems by veterans but I also want civilians poems to show that regardless of our jobs we are all human beings, hopefully this will help end the unfair stigma attached to mental illness. I haven’t got anything yet from the 9/11 disaster or brain injuries and I want that included those if possible. If you have anything you want to contribute please send your submission to remybenoit@gmail.com
Regards
Tony
Hello Michael and Mary,
Thank you for your beautifully composed, pensive, and enlightening poem. You describe the differences in your internal, most personal experience, and the limitiations of those who try to understand what it’s like to be Michael now. I have a sense of you as a wise, wonderful work in progress person.
We are thrilled to have Lash Publishing supporting our work. We work together every Saturday since Michael’s graduation. When we completed our first book, “A Saga of Poems”, it was a gift from Michael’s parents to have this work published. We wanted everyone to see how important it is to NOT give up on people with TBI. Michael’s creativity is brought to the fore with Mary’s skills in teaching. Together they make quite a team.
We hope you will look into both of our works and let us know what you think of our writing. And while reading you can follow Michael’s progress as he continues to recover from his brain injury and get back on his feet.
Thanks again for your comments and support.