I hope the magic won't too quickly hide
within the normal footsteps of our days,
as daily duty thoughtlessly outweighs.
What taken then for granted on the side
of life that even normalcy applauds
as strength, returns from distant sojourn far
enough to be a different world, as par
for remnant years... What are the odds
that such a wondrous outcome could occur?
In bones that can not heal it is unknown
even with the load of pain that I endured,
to let the use of metal be as bone.
My thanks for prayers and courage that I heard!
They made amazing miracles my own!
Author notes
This concerned the first knee replacement after decades of pain. The second "challenging" knee has since almost healed, successfully.
A contest entry
- FOR HUGH WYLES FAVOURITES GROUP ONLY # 13 by huguenauties.
750 points, ended June 13, 2007, 9 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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Excellent Writing
I am so glad for the healing. Excellent Poem.
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Beautiful writting i really enjoyed it though it made me think alot about my life. keep up the good work and i look forward to reading more of your work.
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Poetboy, getting you to think about your life is a nice result of being written. My advice would be to appreciate good health fully while it is yours. It is such a HASSLE getting it back!
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It's beautiful that poetry can exist in the most simple of matters such as broken legs. Now, I'm not certain as to what happened to your legs but it's great that you're capable of venting out the frustrations that exist within poetry. Very beautiful piece. I enjoyed reading it immensely
Alex
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Hi Alex,
Poetry, once it starts to "come easy" is a wonderfully expressive way to vent. Just enough discipline to provide focus, it reaches and helps in ways we'd never otherwise know exist.
My problem in both knees came from arthritis, and the 1984 attempts to undo the damage. I had no idea I was diabetic, and did not know the osteotomies had not healed--essentially leaving me with broken knees held together with a staple in each. Over the 22 years, the staples loosened, and I blamed the pain on arthritis.
The diabetes was finally diagnosed ten years ago when I was going blind, and I have been "diet-controlled" since then. The operations healed perfectly, and at last I am walking without canes "like other people," and incredibly thankful!
Thanks for writing!
Terry
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After reading your splendid poem, I shall take better care of myself and not take my health for granted. I pray you will be walking steadily on both legs soon. This is a beautiful write. Best luck in the contest.
Hugs and love,
Petratani
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I'm so glad your surgery turned out okay and that you can write of it with such eloquence.
My father has had knee surgery and is doing fine, but a dear friend had it about a year ago and it was awful for him. He is now left worse off than before the surgery.
Dee
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Dee, you said, "a dear friend had it about a year ago and it was awful for him. He is now left worse off than before the surgery." I know what you mean. Is he diabetic? A lot of people are but without testing, it is hidden as mine was when in 1984 I had osteotomies on both knees to repair damage from arthritis. Diabetics do not heal well. Mine did not heal at all, leaving loose ends on both tibias, held there only by staples. Over time they loosened, and became so unstable I could no longer trust them not to slip and toss me.
Finally I was in such heavy pain, with back ache too that I went to my surgeon about replacements. He looked at my new x-rays and after a silence, said he could not help me.
Knew that his kind of replacement knee would not work, and refused to attempt it. I respect him for that. He said new research at the University of Toronto Medical School was just starting and referred me to Dr N.Mohamed. I had to sign papers that released them if it didn't work. I may have been the first one to get this new contraption, metal, that encloses the end of the femur and extends down inside the lower bone, but it is just great! This second one was complicated by damage, so I have had to wear a brace until a split bone heals. I just hope it does... or by now, did. (My diabetes is well controlled by a very strict-boring NO-sugar-at-all diet so will do less harm.)
Your friend probably needs something like this. It may not be too late-- Keep in touch, ok?
Terry
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Dear Terry,
It must be such a relief to you to have your knee replacements. I believe once they settle down it's a lot easier to walk and is less paiful.
A lovely poem Terry.
Hine.
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Thank you Hine
With luck it should be as painless to walk as for normal people, but there will be a LOT of physiotherapy first.
I had been mostly on wheels already for twenty years, blaming all the pain on arthritis, unaware the 1984 osteotomies had never healed. Diabetes is like that.
Appreciate good health before you have to remember how good it was.
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Well done!
Good to know your knee surgery was so successful.
I don't know what the odds are for the wondrous outcome that occurred but I'm happy you were one of the lucky ones! Enjoyed your poem!
Maureen
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Thanks Maureen,
The surgeon (in a teaching hospital, and on a research grant because it is a new procedure) called it a "challenging" one, much more difficult than the first because arthritis had done so much damage (the leg was bent 1.5 inches shorter than the other) I asked what odds he gave for success. "40% max, but no more pain." He should have added "later" but it is looking very good, with both legs equal now in length. More than you needed to know?
Another week and a half, another trip to Toronto, and this brace comes off, (I hope.) Then walking can really start.
Depends on what the x-rays show.
Terry
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Dear Terry,
I hope the x-rays show that everything is okay, the brace comes off and you can start walking!!!
Maureen
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Hi Maureen,
It is now July 1, a couple of weeks since the trip to get rid of the brace. The X-rays were perfect. The surgeon said, "Walk for me." No walker, no canes. "I'll catch you if you stumble," as he walked beside me. And painlessly, I did! "Nothing can harm them now," he said.
Wonderful psychology! Every day, farther--and faster.
Without canes! In two weeks, I start doing stairs!!
Terry -
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Hi Terry,
That is great news! I'm happy for you!
It's wonderful what that surgeon was able to do for you. I think it's time for you to change your user name...maybe to something like "WalkingOnAir".
Maureen
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Hmm, but who'd know me?
Hi Maureen! Neat suggestion, and very true, but I have other decrepitudes too--eyesight, impatience with inconsiderate noise and barking dogs, cussed stubbornness about rude beaviour by local teens...and an unrelentingly strict (boring) diet to control diabetes.
There is something beguiling about "WalkingOnAir" though others take it for granted.
Thanks!
Terry
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Dear Terry,
Isn't it wonderful what they can do these days.
I reckon once your second knee is completely healed you'll be ready to start to dance after all the years of pain you've suffered. I'm very pleased to know that you're feeling much better.
Jen
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Thank you Jen! For sure. I will feel renewed!
I still have two weeks in the knee-to-ankle brace, and Tylenol by schedule especially when "I walk too much."
Small price for the rest of my life.
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Dear Terry, I have friends and relatives who have had knee replacements and they're doing fine now.
I think my turn is fast coming because of all the damage done to my knee's from falling over.
It must feel wonderful after the pain and swelling has ebbed. I'm so pleased for you.
Love Joan
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Joan,
Please don't put it off too long if it interferes with walking. Don't make my mistake: I thought it was "just arthritis!" Far from it!
Keep well and thank you.
Terry
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Dear DC,
I was impressed with this sonnet when I first read it (hence my Wyleian invitation) and am no less enthralled with its perfection as I read it again.
I hope that all your corporeal repairs are providing you with increased agility and, more important, much relief from the years of pain and discomfort which you have endured.
Good luck in the contest voting.
Applause for a splendid sonnet and for your courage and endurance.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh (R.)
PS: Please don't forget to remove this from contest after the comp. and voting is closed, as Wyleian Sonnets must be non-contest.
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Dear Hugh, My thanks!
Agility will come after the brace comes off--I hate that brace! I should have had it done years ago, but as a diabetic, things don't heal well and this was done under a research grant at the unversity hospital, an entirely new device. He gave me 40% chance of full success, because arthritis had done so much damage. The discomfort will be gone, which is 100% with me!
I should peraps have found another? What if I forget to delete?
Terry -
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I SHALL REMIND!!
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Yay! "to let the use of metal be as bone" is a medical advance, and that it came to you must be counted as a miracle. I don't know how it is changing your life, but it must be dramatic to have "the load of pain" removed. This is a wonderful entry in the gratitude option, I'm happy for your good fortune Terry!
This is a lovely sonnet. Best of luck in the voting.
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MargaretG--just so you see it!
It is July 1, a week early, but I'm there already. There is a one-block hill, about as steep as allowed for cars, to the river near my house. I had already been walking without canes on the few level streets here, and grocery shopping.
The physiotherapist took my complaint about so many steep hills and said, "Let's go." He pushed my walker, taken "in case it's needed" and without canes, I went down that hill.
And without stopping, back up again...a challenge but I did it without stopping. A tad breathless, but no pain. Kept on doing another two blocks and completely amazed my therapist. Next will be stairs.
I would not have believed it to be possible even twelve days ago, when the brace came off.
Pretty exciting stuff.
Terry
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Thank you M,
I am very much looking forward to this time next month, when the worst of the physiotherapy is over. I'll be walking farther every day, having to document it! Then, stair-climbing! Next time you take anything for granted, take a moment and be glad you can! Luv, Terry
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