A Young Stroke Survivor Finds Solace Writing Poetry

Recently, we published a blog post on Jenn Keeley, a young stroke survivor from our online support group. Jenn has written poetry about her experience, and we are grateful that she has shared two of her poems with us.

If you missed the article about Jenn, click here.

MAKE A WISH

I wish I may, I wish I might

not overthink it all, and start to lose sight.

There are too many emotions my body goes through

and each day I wonder what test next I’ll have to do.

Not as much connects as it used to.

Perhaps an older age or just things I thought I knew.

I always strived for control since way back when

and now there are times where I’d just rather be “Jenn”.

Throughout the years many have helped me along the way,

but now those closest add on: “well let me just say…”

Regardless of a to-be-determined outcome given to me;

I still want to try and even fail if that’s what is meant to be.

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend if one cannot relate.

I worry that payback is to be my fate.

The simplest question is: what do you want? “I just want normal,” to be blunt.

FINDING MY WAY

“Where have I been?” 
I’ve been in hiding 
and living in hell 
My life whirling around me
with no one to tell.
I kept myself locked away. 
from the fears in my mind
I was consumed with tears  and a hope I could not find.

“Where have I been?”
In a deep, dark sea: 
sinking my emotion. 
and drowning to rock bottom—
this is my ocean
Beneath the drenching tide. 
and under those endless waves, 
I had no breath and no life, 
for I needed my soul to be saved. 

“Where have I been?” 
I’ve been lost so long 
and could never explain my misery. 
Refraining from speaking
but dwelling in sickness and agony. 
I am now learning to step back
and to really look at myself—
The results of my past,
including my self-worth and my health

“Where am I going?”
I am growing again—
opening up for a new life.
I’m taking breaths of life’s sweet air,
yet still a little confused—not quite there.
I have a fear of reality
and of who I will be,
to really show my mind and my body,
oh, what the world would see.

“Where am I going?”
I continue to push forward
still blindfolded and scared…
but I’m learning to accept
the life I’ve impaired.
With tears and hard work
I don’t want to, but I now must—
learn to reach out
and look to others for trust.

“Where am I going?”
I am leaving my past—
that dark, lonely place—
to feel snowflakes on my tongue
and warm sunshine on my face.

I am getting back my life 
and finding a special beauty within,
now saying with confidence: 
Where I AM going, not where I’ve been

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