Lifting

 

For two weeks now

I've been moving slow

 

Can't hold much weight

in my right hand

 

Have to lie on my back to sleep

Feels so rigid

 

Every day seems to bring

a new crisis

 

To stress me and

raise my blood pressure

 

When I need to be resting

It proves impossible.

 

When the caretaker gets injured

the whole house suffers

 

It's a constant weighing of

who is best to do what

 

And it's usually me

 

It is so hard sometimes to not feel sad

for my lost summer

 

I long to do my yoga

Walk in nature

 

Sleep on my side

Not worry about Jim

 

But all this proves

impossible

 

I know my body and 

yes, I am healing

 

People do care, and they

have been here

 

I really don't mean 

to be ungrateful

 

My injuries make it harder

for me to deal with 

my husband's terminal illness

 

And now here is where

I remind myself

 

It's only been two weeks,

Helen, give yourself a break

 

When no one is here to lift me

I just have to lift myself