I’m Writing Again

I’ve been through a harrowing few years, dealing with intense physical pain, disability, mental health challenges, grief, and basically the complete loss of the life I knew. I don’t even know how to explain what I’ve experienced, but I’ll try, This is a poem I wrote while I still thought things were going to return to “normal” for me. Now I know they aren’t, but I’m ready to talk about it.

The Pain God

I bow to the pain god but

not really. I cross my fingers

as the pain bows me, brings me

to my knees. I raise my finger

the middle one to say not yet I won’t

bow to the pain god so I cross

my fingers as the pain bows me,

brings

me

to

my

knees

I raise my finger

the

middle

one.