Coming To

Issue 5

She sees him have
A seizure: it seizes her
And frees her from the falsehood of
His perfection:
How he is blessed with electrical currents
Currently coursing from brain to body to brain and back
Manifesting in mini jerks, maxi spasms
He is not himself in these moments
Vacant, possessed by the mystery until
He comes to
 
She's come to learn how to hold his
Heavy body, soothe with a song
Until he returns, back to this plane, to this place
Fever dreamed, disoriented
She helps him up and holds her tongue
No, he is no longer perfect
But he is here, and he is hers and he will

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HEIDI E. WAKEMAN won 2nd Place of the Poetry Writing Contest. She lives, teaches and writes in Gloucester, MA. A long time writer and community changemaker, Heidi seeks to make sense of the world through words, nature, and the healing power of love. She is currently Storyteller in Residence for the Gloucester Writers Center. Her 2023 word is Invitation.

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