The new year has brought with it a crazy series of health challenges. I ended 2014 with a bad case of S. A. D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) induced depression that started a few days before the Winter Solstice and didn't let up until Xmas Eve, I've gotten it a few times before but never that severely. Fortunately by the 2nd day I recognized it for what it was. Xmas Day I was fine, but the next day I woke up with a low level migraine. The headache didn't seem that bad but the 26th was very sunny and my light sensitivity went through the roof, my sound sensitivity went with it and I wound up spending almost a week wearing sunglasses and earplugs and only leaving the room to eat. At the worst of it I was showering while wearing the sunglasses and earplugs. I tried playing some poker after the First but the cacophony of the casino was brutal, and the myriad flashing lights pure torture, especially the White LEDs in many of the slot machines. Just as that began to abate, I threw my back completely out doing absolutely nothing except walking down some stairs. Two more weeks in bed (and excruciating pain) and then I lost my favorite hat when the wind caught it and I couldn't chase after it, because bad back. Then I got the Flu. I go fifty years with no flu shot and no Flu and now the last two years I came down with it back to back. Fortunately, it isn't nearly as bad as last year's strain although it seems to be lingering longer. I have never taken my good health for granted and January 2015 was a reminder how good I've had it. The good news is that my back healed better than it has in 20 years. And I got a poem accepted into a very prestigious journal that I've never even sent a single poem to. Go figure. But I'm back and should be posting more regularly. Here's a few Ku I managed to scratch out during that time.
Antique fire truck-
Remembering red
pistachios
Black ice-
slipping into something
less comfortable
Evening Forecast
A steady flurry
of side eyes
Migraine-
A thousand needles under
the Xmas tree lights
Winter Solstice-
The never ending darkness
of this chocolate bar
Day after Xmas
throwing out the trash
my back with it
And until next we meet, may all your potatoes be sweet (and dusted with cinnamon.)
