The effect is subtle
at first but then the
shimmers become
more pronounced
until my entire
vision is obscured
by jagged lights much
like lightning bolts.
I couldn’t fathom
what might be causing
this…was I going blind?
No, I found, they
are ocular migraines.
Join us at dVerse today for our sixth Quadrille where we use the word “shimmer” in our 44 word poem with Victoria as our host.
Posted by Bodhirose on April 4, 2016
https://bodhirose.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/the-shimmer-effect/
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whimsygizmo
/ April 4, 2016Oh, MAN. I get several kinds of migraines, myself. “jagged” and “lightning bolts” are exactly it. Well done.
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016De, I used to get the killer migraines but no more. I get these ocular kind only occasionally and there is no pain involved usually…just the light show.
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
/ April 4, 2016Ah.. well done to get something painful and dark… shimmer so easily leads to a lovely poems… but you made migraine poetic…
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016No, I didn’t go the lovely route did I? This type of migraine causes me no pain just the shimmering, jagged light show…and luckily not very often.
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Linda Kruschke
/ April 4, 2016For me, migraines are an ice pick to the temple and a strong opinion about the lights — any lights — being much too bright. Plus smells are much too strong. You’ve captured the fear that accompanies that first migraine, when you don’t know what the heck is going on.
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016I used to get those painful migraines for years every month, Linda, but these are strictly the shimmering in my vision and usually no pain and if so only a very mild headache. I feel so bad for those who suffer the painful ones where you just want to curl up and die.
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Carol J Forrester
/ April 4, 2016Very different from the others I’ve read so far. I can’t believe I forgot that the word shimmer can be associated with migraines. You have my sympathy.
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016I no longer have the painful migraines only the “light show” and only occasionally, thank goodness.
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Grace
/ April 4, 2016I hate it when that happens Gayle ~ Those lightning bolts are killers for sure ~
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016I’m grateful that I no longer get the “killer” migraines, Grace. I’m only left with the shimmers on occasion with no pain.
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Victoria C. Slotto
/ April 4, 2016Now that is a shimmer we could do without, don’t you think? I am so sorry you have to go through that ( pretty clear what you describe is what you have experienced.).
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016I have experienced it, Victoria, but these kind of migraines don’t cause the pain like I used to have…they only sparkle and shimmer and obscure my vision for a short time.
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ShirleyB
/ April 4, 2016Great build-up – forced the eye eagerly to find the cause (though sorry you suffer these, must be awful)
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016Well, it was scary when I didn’t know what was going on but then found that they’re pretty benign and don’t cause pain only the sparkling, shimmering show of lights. Weird for sure.
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Anonymous
/ April 4, 2016Curiosity and a little fear relieved, a little, with knowledge. Nicely done. You are good with brevity. Something new for me to try. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016It is fun to try this brief form that we came up with, Barbara. Use the word “shimmer” and only 44 words…no more, no less. I’ll be waiting to see what you come up with. 🙂
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Pleasant Street
/ April 4, 2016I hope you don’t have to feel this pain often
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016No, no pain. Just a strange show of jagged, sparkling lights.
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trishwrites1
/ April 4, 2016I have seen what these do to my daughter – debilitating
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Jennifer Wagner
/ April 4, 2016Hellacious! But you have written of it well!
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016Jennifer, I was somehow unable to leave a message on your site. I couldn’t engage the comment box but I enjoyed your wonderful baseball poem…loved that ending!
Gayle ~
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Jennifer Wagner
/ April 4, 2016Thanks so much, Gayle! I’m not sure why the comments issue is happening, but I’ll look into it on my end. Hope you’re enjoying spring! 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016Thanks, Jennifer. Spring is a fleeting thing in Florida. We usually go straight into summer but we did have a bit of a cool down this weekend but the temps will be heading right back up again I’m sure. 🙂
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SilverGardenia
/ April 4, 2016You made them sound pretty, but I’m sure they’re not!
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016Well I guess you could describe them as pretty but it’s always a weird feeling when my vision gets distorted with these flashing sparkling lights. I don’t have pain with them like you would have with your typical migraine…thank goodness!
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kanzensakura
/ April 4, 2016Interesting take. It seems several of us have these wretched migraines. Mine never sounded so artistic as your poem. And you are spot on with them.
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016I don’t get the wretched kind of migraines anymore but I did for years. These are strictly vision related and I just see sparkling jagged lights that obscure my sight for 15-20 minutes and then they go away. Very strange but usually no pain at all. I don’t wish migraines on anyone…the wretched kind…or any kind for that matter.
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Candy
/ April 4, 2016Ouch! Well put
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016Thanks, Candy…no ouch for me just a strange light show.
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lynn__
/ April 4, 2016Sounds rather fascinating actually, Gayle! Unique take on “shimmer”…like your title.
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Bodhirose
/ April 4, 2016It is actually, Lynn! The human body is an interesting and mysterious entity. 🙂
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ghostmmnc
/ April 4, 2016Ouch! That is exactly the shimmery effect you get from a migraine. Such a strange thing to see, those lightning bolts, and mine were like looking through crinkly cellophane. It didn’t hurt though. Great use of the word shimmer on this one!
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kim881
/ April 5, 2016A migraine light show or northern migraine lights – I hope you don’t get them too often, Gayle. I’m a sufferer too; I don’t get too many flashing lights but I can’t open my eyes when I get a migraine.
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lillian
/ April 5, 2016ooooooh yes. I FEEL this one! I get about 4 or 5 a year……..shimmering lights indeed — peripheral vision disappears with my shimmer…….well done!
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kaykuala (@hankkaykuala)
/ April 5, 2016No, I found, they
are ocular migraines.
So it was not a headache but difficult to pinpoint what exactly was wrong with the eyes. Never thought such things could happen
Hank
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Imelda
/ April 5, 2016Migraines are bad enough… but this you are writing about here seems worse than the usual.
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ava
/ April 5, 2016Oh man, that is the WORST.
Really good poem, though.
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Bryan Ens
/ April 6, 2016Does not sound pleasant. Great use of the word in a way not expected!
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silentlyheardonce
/ April 6, 2016I like the writing but the thought is heartbreaking. I don’t suffer with migraines but I know many people who do and they sound painful.
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Renee Espriu
/ April 20, 2016I use to get these before I retired and still working. I would get them when I was working and would have to simply stop everything I was doing until they passed, my vision was so impaired. I, too, did not know what they were but I am happy to say that I have not had any recently. Do take care. xoxo
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Bodhirose
/ April 20, 2016So nice to have you visit and hope you’re doing better. I haven’t had one in a long time but then they never did come that often…thank goodness. Sometimes they would happen at work too and I would just have to wait until they passed…always 15-20 minutes. Take care, Renee. xoxo
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