I had spinal fusion surgery ten years ago, and while the procedure was successful, one of my lungs collapsed while I was anaesthetized. I had to breathe into a strange hand-held device, a simple task rendered ridiculous on account of all of the pain meds.

A slightly longer variation:

restless sleep
cold air settles in
for the night

harvard square
she is waiting
but not for me

approaching storm
a hurried burial