trapped

a gentle soul, trapped

within her damaged body

by a stroke

unsure, merely smiling, afraid

to speak because her words

come hard, garbled

greeted by two from different

care settings who can listen

and wait without anxiety

while she struggles

bring richer smiles

of joy in acceptance

retreat from anger

retreat from anger

wait to the count of one hundred

and ten

and then

wait until tomorrow before answering

at times, sleep unravels cause

so the anger can be channeled

at times, the feeling is appropriate

but the response must be moderated

and truth expressed quietly, but firmly

and that cannot be accomplished

if the anger still rules

wobble

how i wish climate change

were a hoax we could all

put aside and wait until earth

rights herself again

for all our assumption of power

we seem willfully unaware

of the toxic nature of many

of our ‘changes for the better’

even natural mutations are mostly

for the worse—and die out

ah!

 still he waits

quietly forgiving

gently accepting

            mjNordgren  10/11/2022  N