Angela Allen

Abstract photo of fragmented objects and light reflecting back from water

My brilliant husband has
aphasia. His language
went haywire when
a stroke shattered
a bit of his brain.
.

So he says
“sluppers” for slippers,
“snack box” for frig,
“heatness” for heater,
“mismarriage” for divorce,
Trump for triumph.

Sometimes
he says
yes for no,
him for her
right for left,
red for blue,
aunt for uncle,
mother for father,
19 for 1.9 (miles),
five years for five minutes,
one thousand for one million—
and at times— those are dollars.

These misfires stir up
disbelief and argument,
sometimes hysterics.
And by nightfall,
constellations
of loneliness.

Share