Disconcerting

DISCONCERTING.

What I find most disconcerting
is when my guts or stoma’s hurting,
as that’s a warning sign you see
to say that something’s wrong with me.

There’s many different types of pain,
some will come, then go again,
but those do not concern as much
as those highlighted by my touch.

When I exert some pressure on 
then, suddenly the pain has gone,
I feel that it’s an improvement
and therefore it’s not permanent.

It’s disconcerting for a while
but when it’s gone I can then smile
and feel that I should not have seen
that pain as what it ‘could have been’. 

Some of my pains may linger long
and then I think there’s something wrong, 
especially when these pains defy
any remedies I try.

Sometimes pain happens overnight
and then I feel that things aren’t right,
for when my sleep becomes disturbed
I might succumb and be perturbed. 

 I feel that somehow, memories
of all past pain and surgeries
have sensitised me to lookout
for what my present pain’s about.

I now think when new pain appears,
it links with memories and fears
of all past painful incidents,
acts, attacks and accidents.

Accumulated memories
can then become our enemies. 

                                                B.Withers 2023

No surprise, Bill. Another work of art.

I'm somewhat surprised to learn that my pain tolerance as an old man is different from what I expected. I thought, as I aged, I would ignore the little aches and pains and just accept the more uncomfortable things that, as a child, might have brought me to tears or worse. But you know what? I just am not that way. My mind reminds me that the horrible rash under my wafer started with a little itch; the days in ICU came after a slight fever and a little fatigue. I never got a warning about the colon cancer. That was discovered from my first colonoscopy and no symptoms. My mind keeps reminding me and it's like I don't know what's next. Maybe memory loss? That seems like a good thing right now. Just kidding.

Thanks again, Bill, for the stimulation to think.

Respectfully,

Mike

Oh share a word

Then you are heard

But give you do

For that is you

When alone and 'touch'

Can mean so much

However we feel

Our fate we seal

So live and linger

Never point the finger

And best of all

Pain will take its fall

And among the ouch

We share our pouch

For all to see

For you TY from me

Thank you Bill

Your rhyme will bring

A special thing

Waves and kind thoughts

Thanks Jayne, you've made my day!
Best wishes

Bill