[Critique Group 1] Submission for upcoming critique session

[Marilyn Smith]

Seventy-Seven and Holding
by Marilyn Brandt Smith

Author's Note: This poem represents my sister-in-law's current situation.

I guess I lost my balance, just don't know;
It made an awful racket when I fell.
They called for help, crying, of course I'll go;
Did I misstep? I thought I was doing well.

How many stitches needed? Thirty-three?
They stopped the flood, said blood was everywhere;
Testing overnight, then wait and see,
They must be sure at home I'll get good care.

Seventy-seven and holding, how I wish
For my downtown apartment and my cat;
Not someone else's choices in my dish;
It's been twelve years since I could live like that.

My sister Linda loves me, does her best;
My check let her quit work and stay at home,
But shopping, church, her doctors, and the rest
Mean sometimes I just have to stay alone.

Now, who will make the call, say yes or no?
I'm fragile, could soon fall again they say;
Linda sees me shutter, scared to know.
Without some change, they might send me away.

"Walk more; eat less; take pills!" I heard the voices;
But I ignored them, spoiled myself too much.
Now I'm angry, left with no good choices;
I grasp for hope, a laugh, a nurse's touch.

My nephew's daughter's here, no school today?
She helps me dress and hands me my old sweater;
Linda's shopping, cleaning, on her way!
We get another chance to do things better.

New shoes with treads, a walker, other tools;
Three times a week a nurse comes in. She's fine.
Three times a day it's Amber after school,
She'll work this Summer, wonder who they'll find?

I guess she pays attention, music's loud!
If I complain, she'd not be here at all.
They worry when I walk, but still we're proud,
The devil in the woodshed's my next fall.