Years of My Life

A Journey from 1944 to … Now

2003–2004 School Year

Western Reserve Academy

The year began like other years—

A lot of good, some bad—

But then—October—and my face

One day declared it had

Decided it just would not work—

Not right side, anyway.

Bell’s palsy—diagnosis—and

What else can I now say?

The right side of my face just froze—

Not much that I could do.

I saw some specialists, of course,

But when the thing was through

(Or mostly so: It’s never cleared

Completely), I would find

Some issues that would linger on—

The most unpleasant kind.

I took time off from school that year—

Some trouble in my eye,

My right one. After time had passed

(I was a lucky guy),

The thing improved enough that I 

Could go back to my class.

And I was thrilled, to say the least,

To see that dumb thing pass.*

* Some effects linger: drooping right eyelid, and I can’t completely control the right side of my face. Bell’s damages the facial nerve.