“Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a perceptual condition in which the presentation of particular audio-visual stimuli triggers intense, pleasurable tingling sensations in the head and neck regions, which may spread to the periphery of the body1”
Rustled paper unfolds, crinkling like an glass vial underfoot.
A soft palm flattens curves of cotton sheets,
smooths lotion into her chapped, still hands.
Dextrose whispers escape; salinated eye drops suspend and splash.
A red plastic comb tames an unforgiving raven bouffant.
A metallic bite clips with a satisfying snap through fingernails.
Machines whir and drone in monotone,
Pumps heave and sigh in bloated bursts.
The ventilator’s whooshes
pulse with sinuous waves.
Regularly irregular beeps everywhere.
Flashing numbers ticking up and down,
up and down, moving target?
Pressures: blood, cerebral, ulcers, positive end expiratory.
The steady drip of an IV
spring rain water torture
pianissimo staccato on a tin roof
Beads of condensation coalesce from labored breathing, gathering on
ridged endotracheal tubes
translucent face shields, opaque with fog
A blue-gloved hand holds hers in comfort, easing
the pain of a turn for the worse.
Sterile encouragement.
Echoes once absorbed by family and friends at bedside ricochet into
the germ-free, visitor-free, careful, care-filled COVID unit
The sights and sounds of the intensive unction
administered in hopes of salvation
in isolation
during COVID19.
Declarations
Conflict of Interest
The author declares that she does not have a conflict of interest.
Footnotes
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References
- 1.Fredborg B, Clark J, Smith SD. An Examination of Personality Traits Associated with Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). Front Psychol. 2017;8:247. Published 2017 Feb 23. 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00247. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]