Franks Psychiatry 4 #40: shook up: looking better

she's looking better
seems to know now
how to make a smile
appear

I think she's getting better

we first met in her room
on a visual observation round
two weeks ago
she held a flashlight
with a long string tied to the end
looked guilty
confessed that the string
was a fascination
she was trying to release

perhaps she could run it round her neck
pull tight

pull tight

then get away

but I think
she's looking better now

~

she's been fasted for anesthesia
her pills withheld
walks slowly along the corridor beside me
not speaking

up on the trolley
a name band
no jewelry
no false teeth no nail varnish

into the theatre suite
to sleep

relax the muscles
monitor heart check breath
dab the goo onto the electrodes

go

a shudder
some twitches

go

on to recovery

recovery

~

she's still quiet
had a late breakfast and the morning meds
looks a little shook up
but I think
she's better

yes
I think she's a little better now

~