Poetry Corner - homegrown efforts encouraged!!
 

I thought we could do with a little Poetry Corner :D. Preferably homegrown produce please - the creative effort of making up poems is very good for pain!

As this hopefully contain people's creations can I just ask that if anyone wants to use one elsewhere, the author is asked and credited (ie if anyone wanted to post mine somewhere, just put at the bottom "by Brambledog from Neurotalk.psychcentral.com"). LOL, there's a thought - just an example.

.....

I wrote this one in the last hour after my daughter dropped her phone on my right foot. OMG the pain. It felt as though someone had whacked it with a damn hammer :rolleyes: it's not happy now, oh dear....

I look forward to reading everything from two lines that sum up a thought, to epic poems. No rhyming necessary (although it's always fun!).

Bram :grouphug:

.....

CRPS

Behind the scenes we're all a mess,
Life lurches by, we try our best.
And no one sees, the pain's no less
From hour to hour we talk and jest.
We plaster on another smile
For others.

Another night, another dawn,
Another aching day is born
But up we get, we only yawn
We square our shoulders, hearts forlorn.
There's life to live, to run and chase
For others.

It feels like that, but is it so?
Do we really have to go
Another day, and feel this low
As off without us being slow
Remaining family cheerful leave
With others.

I want to go, but I'm afraid
I'm scared of bumps, of being made
To walk much further, is there shade?
Are there seats? *A right charade.
I feel I'm ruining the day,
For others.

But if I stay with these four walls,
This messy carpet, cluttered hall,
I feel I might just have to bawl
Or give up, get myself a shawl
Like some old lady, mad and blind
Like others.

Well bugger that, I hate these fears
I've years to go yet - years and years!
I won't stay in and age with tears
Although within my skin pain sears
My very bones. Ok. It hurts.
Like others.

I wish I was just brave enough
To do these things - a little tough.
I'll go and it will all be bluff,
(I'll move away if things get rough).
So hear, CRPS? Go jump!
I'm others.

Copyright: Brambledog :winky:

Great poem Bram.

Here's one that I love.

Accept Me
Larry S. Changges

I am I
Do not change me
condemn me
nor put me down
Accept me for what I am
No....you need not agree with me
But accept me
for I am total in being
I have my faults
I have my guilts
But that is who I am
Perfect I will never be
Allow me to be uninhibited
Do not pressure me into feeling
what I do not feel
Accept me when I am flying high
As I have accepted you
when you were flying high
Do not put me down... nor make
me feel unhappy about me
I am I
and I like being what I am
Me.

Here's another one I love.

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.
Show Me the Fine Art Print

People get offended by a burp or fart. Yes I said it. You need to keep an open mind and not take offense because someone turned left instead of right while walking. If we keep an open mind instead of closing it we could have a better world. Closing our minds is what some Drs do about our pain in telling us its all in our heads and not investigating it. I don't judge unless a judgement is past on me.

Bram,
Do you have any more Shakespeare? Would love to hear it if that's okay with you.Thanks.

Here you are Renee! This is Shakespeare writing about poetry....:winky:

“The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to heaven; and as imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown, the poet's pen turns them to shape, and gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name; such tricks hath strong imagination.”

William Shakespeare.

I hope someone else will be brave and generous enough to share something of their own too - I know it's daunting, but you'd be doing me a favour, otherwise I can't post any more of mine!! :D

Bram.

Ok, here's another one I like. Hope you like it too.

Each Life Affects Another

We may not always realize
That every thing we do,
Affects not only our lives
But touches others, too!

For a little bit of thoughtfulness
That shows someone you care,
Creates a ray of sunshine
For both of you to share.

Yes, every time you offer
Someone a helping hand ...
Every time you show a friend
You care and understand ...

Every time you have
A kind and gentle word to give ...
You help someone find beauty
In this precious life we live.

For happiness brings happiness
And loving ways bring love;
And giving is the treasure
That contentment is made of.

- Amanda Bradley

---------------------------

Desperate Times
 

Desperate Times


Lord, it's getting to be desperate times
Why do you seem to delay
In responding to my pressing needs
That I remind you of each day?


In my mind I know that you
Will come through in the end,
But in my heart emotions rise
And I worry and fret again


Help me, Lord, at those times
To give it again to you,
Help me know deep in my heart
That you will pull me through


And that you fully understand
Exactly where I’m at,
Though circumstances do not change,
In you, I shall not lack


Everything when given to you
Will work out for my good,
For when I cast my care on you,
It's then, that it's understood


That it's just a matter of your timing
In responding to my need,
For often it's because you're doing
A deeper work in me


So all that's left for me to do,
The one thing that is sure,
Is to put my trust in you each day,
For nothing matters more.

© By M.S.Lowndes

My trust is in HIM .. for my life was spared not once but twice and for that I rejoice even through the darkness that CRPS (or any other disease/illness/injury) brings.

The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.


Source: The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Okay, Bram. I don't have a poetic bone in my body but I want to see another one of yours. So, I have written a haiku just for you.

A wee bit broken
Not quite who I used to be
I will start again


Feel free to cringe. I am. :P

Aww Kim don't cringe! I think that's lovely. Simple but effective, and I like the sentiment behind it. Some of the most famous poets wrote some very very short poems. There's a real skill to summing something up in so few words, without it sounding stilted and barking!

Thank you so much for sharing that :)

Bram.

Bram, now you can post another one of your real poems. :)

Crumbs, no pressure.... :p

Better write one soon then! But thanks for the vote of confidence Kim :)

Bram.

KimA I love your haiku, so you'll get no cringes from me.

When I saw this thread, my goofy brain immediately went to this little sing, songy, tid bit that my godfather used to tell me, I was very young ok, not like last week. LOL ok, get ready to send raspberries my way.

A peanut sat upon a track
His heart was all a flutter.
A train came rolling round the bend
Toot toot, peanut butter.
:D:D:D:eek::eek::eek::D

I love that Syl!!!! :D

Fab....keep 'em coming!

Bram (still awaiting inspiration lol)

Ok, here's one prompted by a dream I had recently....:rolleyes:

Bram.

Dreaming

I dreamt I woke without the pain.
The sun was shining....no more rain.
I dashed downstairs into the street
And ran on my own normal feet.
I walked the hills in wind and rain,
And laughed and shouted just the same.
I tidied up my daughter's room,
She smiled like roses softly bloom.
I went back to my tennis game
I won of course, biked home again!
I took my children to the fair,
We rode the highest in the air.
My husband took me to a dance,
A pretty dress, his loving glance.
We whirled about, and chatted long
My heart so full, and nothing wrong.

I dreamt, I woke.
I wish, I hope.

Brambledog c.2013

Bram, those are SO good! Seriously, that first one made me almost cry. The "others" line at the end was so effective because it broke the pattern of the lines above and it really caught your notice.

The second one was also really good. I'm not just flattering you, either. You really have a talent for this. The images in the first part; they were varied, and you caught an essence of each (daughter-roses; dance-pretty dress, relationship, movement; games-winning! :D ) Then in the second part, the sadness of waking, but with the stubborn bit of hope ...

Please keep them coming. They're beautiful!

Beautiful Bram. For me, the last two lines are heart breaking.
Thank you.

That's so nice guys. Thank you :)

Perhaps I could write a book of poetry for CRPS and publish it to raise awareness and donations for research?! Hmm.......scary thought. Brams considers putting herself up for possible public opinion.... :eek:

Bram.

Here's another one:

Poetry: If you could live in my body

A Poem submitted by one of our ButYouDontLookSick.com members.

If you could live in my body,
just for a day,
maybe you wouldn’t think
that I feel okay.
You might understand
what it’s like to be tired
by just trying to live,
just doing what’s required.
If you could live in my body
you might begin to see,
that a simple drug
won’t set me free.
If you could live in my skin
you’d learn to understand
that it’s not in my head,
nor was it planned.
I don’t want your pity
or to make you resent.
But I don’t need to apologize,
or have your consent.
I am sick and I’m tired
every single day,
and it won’t help to ignore it.
So listen when I say:
it helps when I relax
with a friend and some tea.
You can’t understand
but please, believe me.

Submitted by Beth Turner, © butyoudontlooksick.com
- See more at: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wp....qQPCWZ0F.dpuf

And Just One More...

Love and Friendship
BY EMILY BRONTË

Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He still may leave thy garland green.

Both of those are beautiful Renee, both in different ways...

Thanks :)

Bram.

Don't You Quit
 

I'm sick of editing/working... I wanna play! :D Although I'm not talented enough to create my own, so I will share one instead.

The work you have all shared is lovely. Bram you are so talented.


Don't You Quit


When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.


Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.


Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.


Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.


~Ralph Acosta

Love that poem, but never knew who it was by! Thanks Vrae, that was lovely :)

Sorry guys, this one's not that chirpy, but today it's how I feel, and writing it helped a bit :rolleyes: although it did make me shed the odd tear.

Hope you are all doing ok out there. This one's for you :hug:

Bram.

Not My Best Day

If I crane my head a little, I can see a green stand of trees.
I know beyond that lies the town, the rivers, life and such bustle.
My car is crouching on the drive, and sits waiting for my key
Sunshine moves the shadows, and crisply on the lawn leaves rustle.

Autumn now bring chills and draughts, they scare me like a dragon crouched.
My blanket here is soft and warm, comforting like chocolate,
Whispering it's safer here, reassuring me, my dog slouched
Across the other sofa, makes me smile, her happy noises soft.

The tv there is on of course, but nothing on it interests me
Not even real people's lives, but something darker like grey skies
Or that noise behind you in the darkness. It's hard to watch, to see
Life as it could be, as it was, as it might have been had fate smiled.

It's grey now outside. Grey and damp and chilled like the hope it replaces.
It's hard to keep going each day, to smile again and face alone;
To stop that silent scream escaping, teaching those judging faces
About this thing, this pain, this beast, that gnaws upon my very bones

Both day and night. Night and day merge together, tied by pain like wire
Cutting through flesh. Try to explain, see confusion, even boredom there;
See dark the yawning*cloud their eyes behind the sympathetic smile.
They don't see, they can't. Who could? Except you others who know and share.*

You share it all, you see, that pain, the searing tears upon your cheeks.
You know, you see, that black black depth within us where we go to hide
When it is bad, beyond belief of what should be endured. You seek
The same relief, that gasping breath of life again, your eyes wide.

No wonder we all hope and pray and wish for the impossible.
Screens flickering with searches and dreams, fingers touch and burn there,
On keys to keep the link between loneliness and understanding.
A lifeline when being drowned in pain becomes just too much to bear.

I cannot see those pseudonyms, or know their lives and faces true,
But like the air that fills my lungs, I see them in my heart, they hold
My hand in darkness and fight with me against the fear. And the blue
Streak of dawn brings hope of sunlight, warmth at last to chase the cold.

Thank you all.

Brambledog c.2013

I cut and pasted the poem below.
I found it on the internet, but the author is unknown.
I hope you like it.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND

Please understand

that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being

I don't feel well often times and I might not seem like great company, but I'm still

me stuck inside this body.

I still worry about my kids and work and my family and friends, and I'd like to hear you talk about yours too.

Sometimes I want to talk about my illness sometimes I don't, so please don't roll your eyes when I talk about my pain and please don't pressure me to "get it off my chest" when I just want to pretend it doesn't exist.

Please Understand

the difference between "happy" and "healthy".

When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years.

I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable.

So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. I may be tired I may be in pain. I may be sicker than ever.

Please, don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!" as if I'm healed. I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. Tomorrow I may sound worse again.

Please understand

that being able to function for an hour doesn't necessarily mean that I can keep it up all day. Doing everyday things, that everyone else takes for granted, exhausts my resources and I need to recover.

Imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either.

With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can move. With this one it gets more confusing. Maybe today, I can handle work and home, tomorrow it may be one or the other but not both. There is actually a name for this it's called postactivity payback and it sucks.

So, please try to keep in mind that I don't function like everyone else and just because I can do it today doesn't mean I can do it everyday.

Please remember

that the above paragraph can apply to just about anything, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable", and so on it can apply to everything that requires physical or mental effort. That's what a chronic pain illness does to you.

Please understand

that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen.

Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!".

If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you.

In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.

Please understand

that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and

can often make me seriously worse.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were always in pain and exhausted?) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct - if I could do it, I would.

Please understand

that if I say I have to sit down/lie down take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now, it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm doing something. RSD/CRPS does not forgive.

Please understand

that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well, But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better.

It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chronic illness. I will go about the business of living, but I won't necessarily be happy about it either so please try to understand that there is a reason I'm a little crabby sometimes. I can't just hide in bed with my head under the covers because I don't feel good everyday. But I sure have tried to do just that.

Please If

you want to, you can suggest a cure to me, but please don't act as if

it's going to be my salvation. It's not that I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest something at one point or another. Typically, it's just the same old snake oil in a new package.

If there was something that cured, or even helped, people with RSD/CRPS then we'd already know about it.

There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with RSD/CRPS, if something worked we would KNOW.

I'm happy to hear what you have to offer and if it's something that I haven't heard before, I'll take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.

Please understand

that getting relief from an illness like this can be very slow if not imposable.

People with RSD/CRPS have so many systems in their bodies out of equilibrium, and functioning wrongly, that it may take a long time to sort everything out.

Please understand

that if I pull away from a touch or a hug. Its does not mean that I am anti-social. Or that I don't like you. It simply means that my body's ability to enjoy touch has changed and I am unable to greet people in a normal mater because of the chronic burning pain that RSD/CRPS causes.

I depend on you - people who are not sick for many things. But most importantly, I need you to understand me.

That one is really good. I've read it before, and I really like it. I was going to try to find it and post here, but you beat me to it! It explains a lot of things very well, IMO. Thanks for sharing it!

I especially liked this:

"Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen.

Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!". "

I am still ME
 

By CRPSSongbird :)

One day, one moment, one breath
Life changed, dreams altered
Searing, burning, numb
Dread, and fear
Dark, and lost
I am still here

Each day a struggle
outcast, and misunderstood
Bright pain, black hope
shadowed in loss
I am still here

I still breathe, I still dream
changed but still real
hurt but not quite healed
Other can't see
wretched disbelief
they can't know
But I still feel

I'm lost, but resolved
broken, but whole
Altered, yet steady
I am still ME

Wow Songbird, that was fab! :)

Thanks so much for sharing that with us....it was so sad, but strong and defiant. I feel a bit like that right now (the painful outcast blackness bit anyway :rolleyes:) time to find my strength again :winky:

Bram.

I'm sorry your having such a bad day hun! Sorry if it was a bit depressing but sometimes you can feel that way. I just have to remind myself every now and then to think past the pain and limitations and remember me :) Of course depending on the day easier said than done!

Don't apologise for it being sad. Sometimes you need to feel sad before you can feel brighter again... That last one I did was darn bleak lol, but it was just how I felt at the time. I think if it's there and it wants writing, then it does you good to get it out. Kind of healing I suppose I mean.

The weather has been awful here, and we are sitting right under a big low pressure weather system....probably explains a lot!

Take care Bird and hope you sleep well. I'm off to see if I can get a few more hours kip than last night...zzz

Bram.

CRPSSongbird,
This is a beautiful poem. So painful. So well put. Thank you. It is me too.

Not sure whether to laugh or cry today :rolleyes:...

Hope you are all feeling ok and having a good day x

Bram.

This Blinkin Leg

Some days this leg of mine freezes
Like a polar wind has found its way into my bones
And set everything solid.
Dull blue, strange shades of purple bruise
And patchy weirdness.
Surely this is some other creature's leg?
Oh it hurts.

Deep breath. And another. Steady now.
Suck in any warmth from the air,
It might just thaw the glacier and let my blood
Move again, thickly first, but flowing at last.
Oxygen for me, for those poor damaged cells.

Later the same day, while eating tea or chatting
Or anything else 'normal' (ha)
It will suddenly burn
Like a thousand suns
Or one of those old fashioned bar fires;
You know - the ones your grandma had in the lounge.

Suddenly red, fierce and flaming;
I could fry an egg on that love, he says
With a kind attempt at humour, and that smile.
I'd like to laugh, really I would,
But somehow it is taking all my effort
Just to not scream, or cry, or sob wildly.
My children are in the room you see.
Mustn't break down now.

Deep breath. And another. Drink the air in,
Wish it were raw alcohol that might numb me
From the inside out, and quench the fire.
Where is my arctic blast now?

Oh how I hate this. If I had a pain therapist here now
I might throw my book at him, or use my stick
To spill his tea in his lap. Fools.

Pain management? I might as well wish the stars
We're not hanging defiant in the velvet night,
Or that the clouds could disperse with a flick
Of my aching fingers. Laughter at last,
Bitter irony, angry and sad and honestly
Just ever so slightly hysterical.

CRPS. Can't Really Paint Seasides. I wish.
Oh wouldn't that be better. I could deal with that.
Maybe just paint flowers instead.
Pretty, quiet, gentle flowers, pastel shades
And upturned little faces, watching for the sun.

Brambledog c.2013

Too much time on my hands right now!! This one is a bit of light relief for all of us who love our furry friends....:)

Bram.

.....

My Friend Cat

My cat here is a thing of calm;
Of purr, soft fur and scything claws.
She sits, or sprawls, or pounds at me,
Her pink mouth, daggers deadly, yawns.

A thing of beauty is my cat,
All calm serenity, all peace.
Such soft and warm and curling grace,
So sweet and lithe, with endless ease.

At night though, all the small things fright,
And start and run and hide away.
They know her black and ruthless heart,
Her killing stare, her deadly play.

By day my friend, by night this hell,
That visits on the slower mouse
A dreadful curse, not always quick,
But sure and deft, upon their house.

Yet here she sits and licks quite sure,
And lifts her paw with dancer's style
To gently wash each ear again,
And twitch my mouth into a smile.

Brambledog c.2013

I'm sorry, but this one is really a downer - I'm going thru some pretty awful times now :( I've never written poetry (at least since I was forced to in school) but I wanted to try and get this off my chest.



The Undertaker


"Mom, I like when you wear make-up!"
I hear my daughter say, and groan
(inwardly; why give her more pain than
she already has? The other girls in her class
have moms that smile and move around lightly;
fleet, happy birds whose movements are thoughtless and carefree,
instead of greedily hoarded then carefully spent,
movement by precious movement,
as a miser hoards rare and costly things).

This means 5 less minutes of precious rest; but ...
it also means a little gift for my daughter,
who has fewer daily presents under her tree than those other girls;
but these presents are bought with more costly currency.

So I get up, moving past the pain
(or through the pain or with the pain,
for I can't move past it)
to my dressing-table, where I lay out the tools
of my outward beauty.

Soft, creamy foundation, that smooths out the blotches
and softens the lines of pain and fatigue;
Warm brown eyeshadows, and soft, dark liner
to give sparkle to eyes that are dulled;
Mascara to conceal the hairs that are gone
(along with other, more precious things);
Soft lipstick to brighten a smile
(God, help me to remember to smile!)
and my mother's perfume (this last is for me;
the scent envelops me like her arms;
a soft, warm, gentle embrace that doesn't hurt
because it isn't real).

I lay out the tools -
and start painting the corpse.

CRPS is not all me,
I am not CRPS.
But since it got hold of me
I must agree
That my life is a bit of a mess.

:winky:

Brambledog c.2013 har har :D

Me and My RSD
By RSD RENEE

One night when I went out to my car
I fell on ice and broke my wrist
My husband drove me not too far
To a hospital through fog and mist

The pain increased and swelling too
My wrist turned bright red and then bright blue
It stiffened up and atrophied
I wondered what had happened to me

Then my doctor told me one fateful day
That I had RSD and it was here to stay
I felt so numb and that it was unreal
It felt untrue and so surreal

When finally my shock wore off
I took my pills and nerve blocks too
And realized my life had changed
Into constant pain my whole life through

But I cling onto hope
That a cure will come
That it will be soon
From someone

And my life will be
Like it was before
And my RSD
Will be no more.

Yay people! Release your inner Byron! :D

Bram.

Barter by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

My Arm

I used to have an arm,
It was really rather strong
And it used to pick the kettle up quite surely.
But now it has the CRiPS,
It's much weaker than it was,
Unpredictable and painful and poorly.

I used to have a foot
That would carry me so far,
Cross the fields, over hills and parks gaily.
But now it has the CRiPS,
It's so painful, thin and weak,
And it stumbles now and trips me up most daily.

I used to have a knee,
That bent and stretched and jumped,
It was always so reliable and strong.
But now it has the CRiPS,
It looks thin but fat, it's sore,
And now it sometimes gets the job quite wrong.

I used to have a hand,
I could turn to anything,
Often played piano, cello and the flute.
But now it has the CRiPS,
It's so cold and weak and aches,
It can't do much for long, it wants me to be mute.

I used to have some toes,
They were prettier than most,
And I painted them and liked to show them off.
But now they have the CRiPS
They're all burnt and red and grim,
And only now of interest to a prof.

I used to have a life,
It was fast and fun and mad,
And I shared it all with many folk around me.
But now I have the CRiPS,
And my life seems to have shrunk,
Not by choice, but just because this thing has changed me.

I am not the girl I was,
Not the woman or the mum,
Just this living husk of burn and ache and pain.
For I've lost sight of the sun,
In amongst all these dark clouds,
And I need a stout umbrella for this rain.

Brambledog, c.2013.