Recovery

The world had grown so small.

Through necessity, it remained thus for a while
and then slowly, I began to nudge at its edges.

Slowly proved to be too fast;
my patience too impatient.
Progress varied from slight, to good,
to backwards, and then good again.

Determination and exercise held the keys
to unlock the world as I once knew it.
Over time, some doors reopened,
expanding my horizons.

A semblance of normality returned
and with it, energy for reading,
walking, swimming, talking, teaching.
Summoning everything I had worked so hard to regain,
I plunged, headlong, back into work.

Now, one week in, I'm feeling depleted,
though never defeated.
I can do my job and all that it entails,
but have no energy left for anything else.

The world has shrunk again.