New Poem-5 Senses of Migraine Auras

Hello, readers. Here is the poem I promised about my migraine auras. While you will probably get the idea from the poem, for those of you who don't know, an aura is when a patient experiences a strange sensation of some part before or during a neurological phenomenon, typically a migraine or seizure. These auras can include lights, sensitivity to sound, and well...my poem includes others as well. I only recently learned that it is rare for someone to experience auras in all five senses in a short period of time, so I though I would write a poem about what these five sense auras are like. I also have experienced other aura related symptoms not include here, such as memory loss, aphasia (difficulty remembering words/language), and loss of balance. I hope you enjoy this poem. 

5 Senses of Migraine Auras

By: Blog Admin

My throat prickles with

dryness, but I narrow

my eyes at the five feet of linoleum

between my chair and the sink. The

pain –my migraine—twists, a

chain coiled around my head.

I glance at the sink, but instead of

seeing muted steel, the sink shimmers with yellow

and green. A couple blinks, a shake of my

head, and the pain slices above my

left eye,  the lights dancing

in rhythm to the pain.

I push through the haze, and walk, pulling

 against the migraine, eyes closed. I grip

a cup, but instead of skin

on plastic, I feel a current of icy sparks

rippling

beneath my fingertips.

Fingers tingling, world shimmering, I turn on

the faucets, but instead of a duet

of water and steel, I hear

each water droplet ring

through the air, the bullets

of sound ripping

through my brain.

I do not even blink when the water,

instead of feeling crisp

and cool, tastes of burnt

toast, or when the stench of

 Formaldehyde rolls

over me.

I gulp the water, set down the cup, and massage

my tingling fingertips. My brother enters, glances

 at my hands, and dials up the thermostat

with a click.

He sniffs the air.

“Isn’t it great in here? I love the scent of baking bread.”

I smile and nod, the green lights surrounding my brother

flickering, as if in agreement.