Jennifer’s poem is a powerful reflection on life after stroke; the fear, the frustration, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going. It’s a reminder that even when things look ‘fine’ on the outside, recovery is an ongoing journey. Read her words below and let them sit with you.
You’ve had a stroke - Four words that change everything.
You’ve had a stroke. Four words, no more,
But they slam like a sledge on the soul’s quiet floor.
One moment you’re fine, then nothing’s the same,
And now every breath feels tethered to shame.
You live in fear of what comes next—
That flutter in flight, that climb up the steps.
A walk too far, a laugh too loud—
Will it strike again, silent and proud?
Did I forget, or never know?
Is this a gap or just life’s ebb and flow?
Is my mind slipping or simply slow?
These answers, elusive, refuse to show.
Sensible shoes—my balance is thin.
A stumble, a sway, a fight I can’t win.
The fatigue is a fog that swallows the day,
And no one can see it, but it won’t go away.
Did I take my meds? I can’t recall.
Was it morning, or not at all?
The pillbox blinks, accusing and cold—
A daily riddle, a story retold.
They say it was “mild,” not much to see,
But every inch of life changed for me.
I laugh, I talk, I walk the same,
But deep inside, I’m not the same.
Am I senile, or still in repair?
I search for myself, but I’m not quite there.
And still, I rise, though questions remain—
Each day a triumph, each breath through pain.
You’ve had a stroke—four words, one war.
A battle inside that’s hard to ignore.
But here I stand, though nothing feels right,
Still holding the line, still fighting the fight.
#StrokeRecovery #LivedExperience #InvisibleDisability #LifeAfterStroke #PoetryWithPurpose
.
