I can't remember a lot of things
about my stay in hospital,
And what memories I do have,
are like grainy black & white photo stills,
Shot frame by frame.

It might be my mind's way of dealing with the trauma it suffered.
It could even be the cordial amount of
pain-relieving drugs
that kept me in a constant hallucinogenic
"Alice in Wonderland" false reality.

But I distinctly remember Kate
the nurse from Ireland
and the way she was always there to comfort and reassure me
every time I was readied
for another big operation.

Her fragrant smile
and kindness in her eyes
(were almost angelic)
and with a hint of “Florence Nightingale”
in her professionalism,
life’s darker moments
melted into a bastion of love
and vibrant colors.