Lost in Translation

She can no longer donate to the Red Cross Blood Bank as the questions on the survey need a translator.

She doesn’t recall if she has been out of the country in the last six months, had sex with a needle drug-user, or taken any medications from the lengthy list.

It is just too confusing, too overwhelming, a great challenge to lie down for several minutes, allow the blood to run through her veins, filling the pint bag and sample tubes.

Amazing grace

the mind turning to sponge

and eating itself

as well as her life

in the blink of a decade