My Mind is clear, just as sharp as a tack,
Though my words may come out front to back.

And I am not deaf, I still can hear
So please don’t shout at me my dear.

I understand every word that you say,
Even though I may be having a bad day.

The stroke has affected my speech and my tongue,
And on certain words my tongue may get hung.

They may come out jumbled, to you make no sense
But that does not mean that I am daft or dense.

Though my communication skills are impaired,
Do not assume with them my faculties are compared.

Please don’t talk down to me and my feelings ignore,
I am still the same person that I was before.

Please try to understand the frustrations I feel,
I need patience, encouragement and time to heal.