 |
| Wilted fig leaves on a branch |
Gratitude, you say, would heal my dis-ease
and reward me with
healthy nerves and knees.
You pick up your
youth, your vigor and glow,
give me a nod and out
the door you go
leaving fresh air in
your wake and new guilt
that pain in my back,
legs and hands won’t wilt.
Yet I can’t imagine
what’s left to do
now that I greet pain
like an old friend too.
I knew you almost a
decade before
pain arrived, but
pain stays with me far more.
In fact, pain’s moved
in with notebooks and all
and I’ve made up its
bed right down the hall.
And I am so grateful
for its company—
I see much love
beyond its litany.
So I’ve given up
guilt’s cold and harsh breeze
for healthy chats
with victims of disease.
Dis-eases like Ebola and cancer
are blights awaiting humanity's answer.
Whether we heal into
death or more life
our spirits are
strong, we know health's our right.
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
"we heal into death"..these are exactly my ma's words, she keeps on saying this for she is convinced that pain won't leave her, specially knee & back pain....however we all want to heal into more life...spirit is willing & we won't listen to what flesh says...great lines Susan :)
ReplyDeleteSusan great words that put pain in its proper place.
ReplyDeleteIt's own room - yes my pain has had it's own suite for one quarter of a century now. People either do or don't understand thinking a pill is the cure.
Be well and write ...
I so resonate with this.....when you live with chronic pain you can either fight it (unproductive), or make peace with it and learn its limitations. Like you, I learned to live with it, and it became an old friend, love the idea of making its bed just down the hall. I, too, love the idea of healing unto death, or more life.
ReplyDeleteOh, Susan, this says it all. I haven't had a day without pain since 1980-something. It is my constant companion, and I've had to learn to live with it, because it seems unlikely I'll ever live without it.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
Luv, K
Whether we heal into death or more life... never heard that exact saying though it is beautiful. Wonderful, Susan
ReplyDeleteI love that pain has its own room down the hall. As someone who lives with chronic pain this really spoke to me.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that chronic pain is so commonplace. There are Hindu meditativeways of removing pain but I think you have to have been practising these ways since childhood. Embracing pain verses fighting pain seems to be the quandary.
ReplyDeletethe dash in dis-ease entirely give a new meaning to the word and i like it's impact.
ReplyDeletewe all have battles, some are shorter, others longer but no matter what it is very true that health and to be healthy is everybody's right
Pain has moved in all right but it has to sleep on the floor...it might leave then.
ReplyDeleteYes, health is a right we all need. I love the idea of pain bringing notebooks.
ReplyDeleteI like how you've accepted it and are now able to see past it to have empathy for others. That's great. Well written.
ReplyDeleteAcceptance and gratitude - indeed the first steps to heal. Understanding what for...and often the answers - in our past/present beliefs, which now don't have firm ground under, but were taught, trusted as absolute truth. ~ Thanks for prompt, Susan! Peace x
ReplyDeleteThis is a stupendous poem Susan. I too can relate to the pain. I will try to make friends with it. You helped me understand a different level of gratitude. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is a stupendous poem Susan. I too can relate to the pain. I will try to make friends with it. You helped me understand a different level of gratitude. Thank you.
ReplyDelete