L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
Pantoum | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Living On a High-Wire Trapeze

Thirty years I have lived with chronic heart disease,
After heart surgery at fifty, more problems arrived,
I have felt like I am living on a high-wire trapeze
With faith in God and medical care I have survived.

After heart surgery at fifty, more problems arrived,
Diabetes, severe gout, arthritis – they all struck
With faith in God and medical care I have survived
Sometimes I have felt like my body has run amuck.

Diabetes, severe gout, arthritis – they all struck
And all the common ailments of age have shown up,
Sometimes I have felt like my body has run amuck
Congestive heart failure is the most recent cup.

And all the common ailments of age have shown up
But, I have been blessed with a good sound mind
Congestive heart failure is the most recent cup,
A person self-sufficient at eighty is hard to find.

But, I have been blessed with a good, sound mind
With faith in God and the best medical care available
A person self-sufficient at eighty is hard to find
So, I make the most of everything that I am capable.

With faith in God and the best medical care available
I realize the arteries all over my body are shutting down
So, I make the most of everything that I am capable
I do not face heart caths and surgeries with a frown.

I realize the arteries all over my body are shutting down
I have felt like I am living on a high-wire trapeze
I do not face heart caths and surgeries with a frown
Thirty years I have lived with chronic heart disease. 

SECOND PLACE WINNER
Written May 19, 2022
For “How I Live with Difficult Health Issues” Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Angela Tune

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

Please Login to post a comment

Barbara Barry-Nishanian Date: 6/11/2022 9:55:00 PM Pantoum was fantastic!!! If our mates wouldn't mind ... I'd say slide over as I too am in congestive heart failure, open heart with complications, stroke, after rehab back to same hospital, double pneu. plus blood clots in both lungs Have congestive apnea, very common, also CENTRAL apnea( brain forgets to tell me to breath, plus rare PAH, HEAT and Lung illness. I take viagra 3 times a day.LOL. Call me if need another person to understand . I understand,I care. You are a great poet Login to Reply Barbara Barry-Nishanian Date: 7/14/2022 11:04:00 PM Viagra was created for PH suffers. I'v gotta have a right heart Cath ( Must be awake) to see if I can switch to something else . Today cancelled it for 19th.. Will reschedule. Please be aware of Pulmonary Hypertension. L Milton Hankins Date: 6/12/2022 9:57:00 AM Oh my, was the viagra prescribed for these conditions???? I do not seem to have these lung conditions, for which I am grateful. Thanks for sharing, Barbara.

Eve Roper Date: 6/10/2022 6:40:00 PM Congratulations on your win:) Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/10/2022 7:09:00 PM Thank you so much, Eve. I appreciate it.

Eve Roper Date: 6/10/2022 6:39:00 PM Milton, you have gone through a rough road. Do you have the same ailments my husband went through for quite a few years. His first bout was a six way bypass add 63, Then a pacemaker defibrillator at 65, then a second pacemaker at 73. He also had congestive heart failure diabetes and gout. But he really never complainedOnly till he was really suffering. Login to Reply

Len Gasun Date: 6/8/2022 12:59:00 AM Sorry to hear about your health my dear friend LM but God is so faithful as you're so faithful to Him too. He has given you all the strengths to get through it. Pantoum is not easy to write but you did it marvelously expressing how you deal with health problems while aging. CONGRATULATIONS on your win and this outstanding write! Thanks for sharing. God bless you always. Hugs Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/8/2022 8:34:00 AM Thank you, Len. I appreciate your thoughtful response to my poem.

Paula Goldsmith Date: 6/7/2022 10:45:00 AM WOW!!! What a story/write. Sorry for your health problems. With God and the Bible you will survive. You may enjoy Revelations in the bible. Have a great/blessed day writing away................. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/7/2022 10:58:00 AM Thank you so much, Paula. Believe me, it has been a trip!

Bill Baker Date: 5/29/2022 10:58:00 AM You're a strong man, Milt. God has blessed you with a will to share the thoughts from that wonderful mind of yours while you still can. May God bless and keep you for many more years, Bill Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/29/2022 11:10:00 AM Ah, thanks, Bill. Yes, I do try to keep my mind active because the body doesn't work so well anymore. We go with what we have, right?

Caren Krutsinger Date: 5/23/2022 1:29:00 PM " But, I have been blessed with a good, sound mind With faith in God and the best medical care available A person self-sufficient at eighty is hard to find So, I make the most of everything that I am capable." You are blessed! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/23/2022 4:17:00 PM Yes, I am, Caren. I really am, and I try to live it every day and be thankful I'm still here! Thanks! You help me make every day worthwhile. I hope you know that!

Paulette Calasibetta Date: 5/20/2022 8:12:00 AM Hi Milton~I am assuming you are writing through your personal medical condition; which I am sorry to hear. You may have medical issues but surely your poetic gift is “tip top”! Good luck in the contest! Blessings, Paulette Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/20/2022 10:20:00 AM Thank you so much, Paulette. Yes, and I have ailments I couldn't figure out how to chronicle. Adversity seems to fire my determination. I appreciate your thoughtful comment.