The Hole In My Heart

Two years ago today, on July 25, 2016,
I underwent open heart surgery to repair
an ascending aortic aneurysm and replace
a malfunctioning aortic valve. I was in the
hospital for three days in cardiac intensive care unit
and 4 days in cardiac care unit. It was this event
that eventually led me to start writing after a
long, up and down recovery period and cardiac rehab.

There was a hole in my heart
But I wasn’t surprised
For you see after all
I used to be tall

In the last few years
I’ve been falling apart
So many surgeries
I don’t now where to start

People tell me, “Don’t dwell on the pain”
Or the old cliché, “no pain, no gain”
Your advice is not needed
Don’t ever try to help me again

My back, my knees
My lungs and my heart
Who told my body
To start falling apart?

But I never gave up
I never quit
The hole in my heart
Has now been fixed

~The Tennessee Poet~

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