Free Verse, Poetry, Theme Prompt, Word Challenge, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Two-Handed Reintroduction: A Haibun

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Wea’ve Written Weekly.
Our PoW, David himself, challenges
us to write a poem about experiencing
something familiar as though it were
happening for the first time. Caveat:
we must include the word ‘again’.

Image by Me & ChatGPT

Five months, three surgeries, one tendon in the pinky finger, snapping like a thread pulled from a coat that unravels somewhere else each time you think it’s mended. My right hand, the one that always knew what to do, sat silent in its brace. The left had to learn to do it all alone.

Wielding utensils left-handed was a joke. I dropped the fork, stabbed my cheek, and treated my mouth like a moving target, mostly missing. Again, my right hand watched, appalled, sometimes laughing, as I ate like it was my first meal ever …. clumsy, messy, often chin-first.

Two hands, that’s how I was taught to type …. suddenly one hand was doing all the work and hunted each letter like it was hiding. The qiuck brwon fxo …. no; I try again.

The piano also waits, lid closed, silent. I wonder if my dear old upright feels abandoned, like I’ve forgotten or maybe moved on to a fancy new digital that never needs maintenance. Each time I dust, does the old girl think “Ah, this is the day she will caress my keys again”, only for me to finish my chores and move on?

Now thirteen months have come and gone and I’m eating like an adult again …. mostly. I’m typing all my WordPress posts like a pro, once more the master of my domain. Soon I’ll play piano, badly, like I’ve never heard a scale before …. which, right now, is almost true …. but in four more months I’ll be playing “Auld Lang Syne” and giving 2026 a good swift kick in the ass!

my hands, still learning
I laugh like I’m new at this
all comes slow and true

Image by Me & ChatGPT

NAR©2026
#W3

This is “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John ft. Eric Clapton

W3 Prompt #224: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, except where otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

17 thoughts on “Two-Handed Reintroduction: A Haibun”

  4. Well dobe Sis 💜 I have to say this has always been my signature song ever since they told me 50/ 50 wheel chair…. we are made of stern stuff. love you .

    Our bodies tried to beat us Sis but we are warriors 💜💜💜

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