A Life Hit

A Life Hit ThIt was a life hit, A one after the other: For first, there was the coma, And just the idea of it To struggle with, but then, Afterwards my eyesight smudged Spaces, altered them, imposed Textures, shapes and colors. This was diagnosed (A complication from my coma) As Charles Bonnet syndrome. Hmmm... Tough call for an artist — Already dealing with proliferative retinopathy, and its dozen laser eye treatments nearly destroying all peripheral vision — Poor fellow, Charles, Having such a legacy, a hard hit; It challenged me to need To learn to draw all over again, Like a child turning the pages Of instruction books. When I drew portraits, I’d put in three Eyes and not see it until told. Actually There came quite much laughing At the perceptions from the hit, Which involve voids in vision — Something the brain will not Accept and so it fills in, often Humorously (I’d say) — Hmmm... Funny brain. I’ll never forget One day, re-learning to draw dogs And after staring at photos Of pups for more than an hour, How I looked up from my sketches To watch the news, Only to see every newscaster And interviewed expert now Had a long, hairy muzzle And floppy ears. Hmmm... Finally a life hit That could go with a bucket of buttered popcorn. ————————————————————- (c) sally young Eslinger 5/2021 Thanks be to God