Songs in a Time of Crisis

While hosting a virtual poetry salon on Zoom with dozens of participants, Caroline--a freelance writer, editor and poet--suddenly felt extremely ill. She asked a colleague to carry on while she excused herself and called 911. She was terrified--what was happening? It turned out she was having a massive stroke and, in the process of losing control of her right leg, she fell and broke her ankle. After a month in the hospital, she spent two more months in rehab to regain use of the right side of her body. She struggled with fear, physical pain, and humiliation. She was shocked to discover that she could wait for hours for a bed pan and that a call for help was often ignored. Despite being challenged by and angry with a soul-crushing healthcare system, she hunkered down and pushed through the pain to build up her strength. Supported by extraordinary friends, family, and lifelong colleagues who lifted her spirits and helped her negotiate the daily indignities of her circumstances, she wrote poetry to chronicle and share her experiences. Now at home again, she is rebuilding her life in all its aspects, with poetry continuing to lead the way. As one reviewer states, "... poetry can be an expression of pain and helplessness, and at the same time, reaffirm one's humanity and power." Another reviewer wrote, "These poems are a gift to ... anyone who believes words can hold us together when everything else falls apart."