This poem, by Michael Rosen, was shared in the comments by Robin Gardner this morning.<\/p>\n
I cannot find it on the web.<\/p>\n
I hope Michael will forgive me for sharing it this morning, when it is so relevant:<\/p>\n
I lay in bed
\nhardly able to breathe
\nbut there were people to sedate me,
\npump air into me
\ncalm me down when I thrashed around
\nhold my hand and reassure me
\nplay me songs my family sent in
\nturn me over to help my lungs
\nshave me, wash me, feed me
\ncheck my medication
\nperform the tracheostomy
\npeople on this \u2018island of strangers\u2019
\nfrom China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland
\nIndia, USA, Nigeria and Greece.<\/p>\n
I sat on the edge of my bed
\nand four people came with
\na frame and supported me
\nor took me to a gym
\nwhere they taught me how
\nto walk between parallel bars
\nor kick a balloon
\nsat me in a wheel chair
\ntaught me how to use the exercise bike
\nhow to walk with a stick
\nhow to walk without a stick
\npeople on this \u2018island of strangers\u2019
\nfrom China, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland
\nIndia, USA, Nigeria and Greece.<\/p>\n
If ever you\u2019re in need as I was
\nmay you have an island of strangers
\nlike I had.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"