"Now I lay me down to sleep"
(Within my anguish, agony, paroxism, there is no sleep)
"I pray the Lord my soul to keep"
(Pain is my only, my one, my whole crop to reap)
"If I should die before I wake"
(Sometimes death feels, seems, sounds like a break, a peaceful escape)
"I pray the Lord my soul to take."
(I don't want to give up yet on solace, wholeness, wellness, for my own sake)
"Amen"
(This feels like an omen)
YOU ARE READING
The Pain Chronicles
PoetryI have had to witness several close relatives deal with both chronic pain, and acute pain, as well as pain that is predicted to be lifelong. It can be devastating, even suicidal, but with treatment, they may be allowed to live a full life. This set...