Fever

On saturday night I was out dancing to soul music
and writhing to the lyrics of
" you give me fever.."

On Monday I was struck with a fever
just like that-
at around 11.30
I had a pot of chai and in an instant was feverish
I know to starve a fever so I did.
Luckily I had eaten a boiled egg and rainbow chard with lemon
for breakfast
and a glass of apple cider vinegar in hot water-
I starved my fever for the rest of the day
and continued on at work.

The Fever persisted.
I got home from work
and went straight to bed..teeth chattering it took a while to sweat it out.
I had every blanket and doona on me.
The next day I awoke fever gone but in its place..
diarrhea !
The last time I had anything like that was in Guatemala
after my one and only case of food poisoning.

I was struck down
and I could not leave my little genie bottle I live in.

I could neither eat nor drink for 2 days,
let alone leave the house.
I took the time off work.
I tried to drink a little coconut water
I tired to drink miso broth with kale and millet
I tired to drink hot water
I tried a boiled potato with sea salt and olive oil and chia
I tried puffed quinoa
I tried peppermint tea,
green tea,
nope to all-
I began to get very pale.
I went to my acupuncturist
who turned my blue lips back to pale pink
and gave me red cheeks

but nothing would stay in!


Today I got up after a very sleepless night
my whole body writhed in achy pain
and I knew I was pretty dehydrated.
N called me
and told me to make
rice congee in dashi stock
and so I did.
I added ume plum vinegar
and guess what!?

I ate the whole bowl
and polished off two cups of lemon and hot water.
hooray!


The whole time I have had my unexpected cleaning out period
my spirits have been really good,
I have felt very clear and present
I just let everything happen
and the rice and lemons cleared up the rest.

hooray to rice and lemons.