22.1.22: Herniated Disks and Other Mischiefs

bed with lamp
Jacek Yerka Original Title: Sen nocy letniej, 1984

To Hell ‘n Back

It’s a herniated disk, you see. Nope, I didn’t do a thing. It just happened. Sitting on a chair, eating dinner. Then pop. And I can’t sleep. I’m trying not to move. Every twitch, stabs. And I notice that the street light licks the bedroom wall a silent grey, a smeared colour like my mother’s ashes. Beside me, my husband sleeps. Noises rise from his throat soft as a baby’s hand, sounds fluting through his nose, a coo-cooing tune, like a wood pigeon. I find myself breathing in time to his rhythm. And I try not to move. I’m looking for sleep.

Maybe custard creams
…. fifty-two …. fifty-three sheep
and a cup tea


A haibun for Linda Hill’s JusJoJan Day 20 “Looking”  Extract image “Susan” by Jacek Yerka Original Title: Sen nocy letniej, 1984. Inspired by Twiglet #262 “Soft Hands”. Β©Misky 2022 Shared with #amwriting #apoemaday on Twitter

12 responses to “22.1.22: Herniated Disks and Other Mischiefs”

  1. sounds like you need some tlc from that family of yours

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Mr M is being truly brilliant. He’s cooking all the meals, washing up after, fetching this and that for me. I really couldn’t ask for more, nor would I want to. I was able to roll out of bed this morning and put my socks on without assistance, so that’s a huge improvement on yesterday. Our neighbour across the street is our GP, ands he brought me a back support thingy, and it’s been very useful.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. I feel your pain, Misky, but fifty-three custards creams are not gonna help you sleep, young lady! πŸ˜‚

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You make me laugh. πŸ˜‚

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Poor you!! Just sitting there – seems so unfair!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s the darnest thing: just sitting on a chair, eating. I’ve aggravated it raking leaves, or lifting the laundry basket, or making the bed, but sitting?!?!? Just crazy.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Mr Worms and I always lament the loss of a story. If one must suffer, one wants to explain it in grim detail: I was skiing and I hit an icy patch, ran into a conifer and was nearly split in two. Telling people “I just took a mouthful of corn flakes”…. it feels like a rip off.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. πŸ˜‚ Spaghetti. It was spaghetti. Perhaps it was all that fork twirling, an enthusiastic Latin-esque manoeuvre.

          Liked by 1 person

  4. I really love the second line of your senryu, Misky! Sorry you’re in pain. I have two herniated discs from a car accident twenty years ago… they only get worse with time 😦

    ❀
    David

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, gosh. That’s not the future I was hoping for. I’ve always had a dodgy lower back, but this is something different. I think it’s beginning to heal, but I’ll keep my activity slow and easy for a while.

      Liked by 1 person

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