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The Stroke

  • Dec 24, 2025
  • 1 min read

The garbled words I could not understand

Her inner life surrendered to this bed

She could not move her legs or either hand

To be this helpless with the worst ahead.

I took the train not knowing what I’d find

The stroke licked her and she was paralyzed

Her body failed although the brain behind

Was sharp as ever… sharp but agonized.

She knew me when I visited her there

And could not stop the tears she tried to hide

The smell of disinfectant in the air

Her eyes fixed on the bible by her side.

I lifted it and read a psalm out loud

It meant the world to her and then a plea

Rose in my heart. I prayed with my head bowed

Not knowing what to pray for. God sent me

If only to sit there and wait for death.

A certain verse lightened some of her pain

She drifted sometimes but I watched the breath

Which would leave her yet in my heart remain.

 
 
 

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