The Beast lived in a grand, old castle, while many animal servants scurried around. He was presumed feeble-minded because he could barely talk, his body grotesque. At the end of the fairytale, the Beast becomes a handsome prince again, able to profess his love. All lived happily ever after. Our experiences mirror one another. A severe stroke sewed my mouth shut, and handcuffed me in a hospital prison for months. Others assume I am simple-minded because aphasia scrambles my words, and my right side is broken and disfigured. Unfortunately, my progress is on a treadmill, never moving forward. Roadblocks remain. There is no happy ending. About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking, and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson is the author of Stormy Road: Reawakening from Stroke and Aphasia. She has been published in four chapbooks, and several online and written poetry collections. Writing poetry has helped her recover, and dictation fuels her words.
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In the bathroom, look in the mirror and see my reflection. In my mind, I see a child aged eight who spends all day looking for the Four-Leaf clover and blowing the biggest bubble possible. In a flash, the light changes, and you look into the magic mirror, see a young adult twenty-eight years old. I ask the mirror if I will have a happy life. The mirror says “Yes, Rochelle”. I am grown up, will I find a job? I often see glimpses of my eight-year-old self in the reflection, and remember those times with pride. Another moment, now the mirror is cracked. I see a changed person struggling, unhappy, and troubled. Much sadness and misfortune visible in the distorted image. At the end, I look in the mirror shattered into many pieces. I see the lines in my face that show all the troubled times, the sorrow. Can I continue my life, or am I ready to let it all go? About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking, and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson is the author of Stormy Road: Reawakening from Stroke and Aphasia. She has been published in four chapbooks, and several online and written poetry collections. Writing poetry has helped her recover, and dictation fuels her words.
A fairytale with three wishes, enchanting fables of dragons, elves, witches. My story contrasts, recovering from weakness, aphasia, and a damaged brain. My first wish would be strength returned. The magic wand waved, made me tremble with excitement. But instead blurted out “I want disability.” So, my right side was still hobbled, but at least I could park in handicapped spaces. My second wish was to cure my trouble speaking. But instead, because of aphasia babbled “I want lasagna.” So, I still could not talk, but at least I could eat some steamy pasta with gooey cheese. My third wish was to make by brain perfect. But instead, jabbered “I want my brain frozen.” The fairy gave me an icy slushie to drink. So, I had a headache on a hot day, my brain fizzled, but at least I was refreshed. My three wishes failed, so, it is back to the beginning. Weakness, aphasia, and a damaged brain. About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking, and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson is the author of Stormy Road: Reawakening from Stroke and Aphasia. She has been published in four chapbooks, and several online and written poetry collections. Writing poetry has helped her recover, and dictation fuels her words.
You are familiar with the tale. A mermaid, sang with the most beautiful angelic sound. Had to surrender voice to be human and marry the prince. He wanted another princess, and poor mermaid dissolved in the ocean. Aphasia is: A snake that coils and hisses. Diabolical Ursula schemes to rule the ocean world. An evil witch who casts a spell over speech. A toothy fox ready to bite your head off. A sudden end to your dreams, only able to see a dark tunnel, the sun blocked. Disney gave the story a happy ending, so Ariel married the prince. With courage and strength, you overcome disability and are much better. You have learned much and are still alive. A fairytale ending to a scary fable. About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking, and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson has been published in four chapbooks, and several online poetry journals. Writing poetry has helped her recover, and dictation fuels her words.
Listen carefully to these words. The Big Bad Wolf to Little Red Riding Hood. Mama, Papa, and Little Bear to Goldilocks. Puss in Boots to his young master. Several fairy tales have animals talk like actors in a Shakespeare play, reciting their lines. Disabled people are understudies with stage fright, frozen on stage. The animals laugh at them, and they become silent and still. The damaged ones just watch the performance as if from a distant alien world. A different fairy tale, without words, just shadows and sorrow. Aphasia stole their cracked brain, and threw it down into a deep, cold, wet and dark well. Broken switches, misfired rifles, the lone soldier. A long battle ahead, they must overcome multiple obstacles. Many changes lead to a new beginning, but hard work will set them free. Through the thick tree canopy, the sun peaks. A happy fairy tale ending is within reach. About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking, and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson has been published in four chapbooks, and several online poetry journals. Writing poetry has helped her recover, and dictation fuels her words.
Flying towards the beautiful, distant horizon the pilot, in charge, scrutinized the brain focused on center of runway Suddenly, the snow twirled and swirled stroke causes plane to slide off the end of tarmac what’s going to happen? With grit and strength determination rules aphasia now controls the airspace Landed in a foreign country cannot speak or understand the language new journey is ready to begin About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking; and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson has been published in four chapbooks and in an online poetry journal. Writing poetry has helped her recover; and dictation fuels her words.
Forest, dark and scary. Will I lose the magic beans? Animals speak, ogres growl, and wolves disguised. Fairy tales read to me as a child, are remembered as an adult. My story begins with a black, pointed hat and scraggly broom. A witch suddenly appears, casts a spell, and causes a stroke that almost kills me. Grey matter twisted, and the enchantress short circuits my brain. Aphasia is a serpent that stings, an ordeal of shadows and contrasts. My mind is filled with jumbled shapes, nonsense words, and mixed-up colors. Demons shout sinister curses. Still cloudy, but I see the sun start to peek through. About the author:
Rochelle M. Anderson lives in Minnesota, USA. She is an attorney who had a severe stroke in 2007 and almost died. She is still disabled with difficulty walking; and because of aphasia struggles with reading and writing. Ms. Anderson has been published in four chapbooks and in an online poetry journal. Writing poetry has helped her recover; and dictation fuels her words. |
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