Under the Knife

Yet another surgery.

4:00 am 

This special day dawns with

Windows opened

Two songbirds sing away the darkness

So lovely bird voices so early

Singing outside my Hibiclens shower

Alone in hospital waiting room

Anxious, watching, yes waiting

Minutes pile into hours

My eleventh major surgery

So unlovely the scalpel’s slice

Which will tear out not just flesh

 But will rip away 

All chance at beloved spring rituals 

Eight  weeks, perhaps even more

This May, June

My eyes will not flinch at

Campfire smoke,

Will not escape skyward

Where stars court galaxies 

In a whirling, curling eternal square dance 

Called out by God in every universe

After universe in what

Feels like forever

Up in that quilted sky

Of black

Of Light

Shall I soon be free to

Walk the Milky Way

Back to remembrance of

All forgotten, to

Locate the Treasure?

Sliding each pane left toward dawn

Through each window

Of my little studio

I shall watch, feel  

May become June 

June become July

Watch the exuberant turn of

Blossom to leaf

Some days the season

Shall hurdle my fourth floor sills

Shall leap at my arms 

Leap into Love’s embrace,

There is only Love

Friend

There is only Love!

Through each memory relive

Shall I?

Axe, cedar, flames, tent, pine cones

An owl seizes the quilt of midnight silence 

One corner grasped by beak

Each hoot moving every element of

This lover’s night

Closer

Lipa descending 

Down your sweet, sweat soaked

Curves

Alchemy astride the east flank of

Nason Creek

Mornings

I will scatter food

Await the raucous thank you

Of Stellar Jays

To their voices 

I shall add

Amen, Amen

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thanks for taking the time Jim. I had my right knee replaced about 18 months ago, now doing the left. According to my extremely experienced surgeon the procedure went very well. I am entering that period of maximum pain. The local anesthetics have worn off and the pain just keeps building. I had to break out the serious pain med today.

[Desert Knave]

Well, I can only hope the surgery is a success and has no complications. The writing, as always, is stellar and filled with detail. ~Jim