Reminder
When you feel the blood rushing to your head,
or draining from your brain,
you are probably having a stroke.

What else could it be?

In one form or another,
you just try to hold on.

The room is spinning.
You must fight from feinting.

As visuals become silent as a still-life you can't stop admiring.

You tried to call for help,
​ but your jaw is locked.

You forget your own name,
though, you can't stop smiling.

Huge thoughts--of peace, love and fear--arrive, then dissipate.

Like having a roaring conch shell pressed to your ear.

You start floating.
You recognize Jesus.

His hand pulling you up and over.
Then, as an afterthought, lets go.

Much fanfare, sirens and clanking,
the ambulance delivers you.

where you will die for two weeks,
then return like Lazarus.