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JP
Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343
Loomis, CA

0 posted 1999-08-06 01:30 PM


The body fights its enemy within,
The daily struggle for life,
takes its toll on the soul.
War being waged incessantly,
relentless battle eats at my mind.
Medications coming and going,
leaving more pain than relief.
Extend the opportunity to survive,
to continue the battle.
The all-too-hopeless battle,
for one more day, one more day.
Waking at night to void the body's waste,
waking at dawn, then morning, noon, evening, night...
Illnesses come, beat me down and slip away.
Sicknesses shed easily as a child,
rage within me, vengeful and wild.
Hunger lashes at my gut,
the same gut that refuses to accept a meal.
The people around me smile with no clue,
my battle within never touches their world,
and they are happy for it.
Another day comes,
faced with joy and depression.
Another day dawns,
another day to see my friends,
my family, the world.
Another day comes,
faced with dread and longing.
Another day to fight,
raging for the might.
Another day to see the sun,
which soon will only be night.


------------------
Dum spiro, spero
JP



© Copyright 1999 JP Burns - All Rights Reserved
Lil-bit
Junior Member
since 1999-08-03
Posts 29
Tallahassee, Florida
1 posted 1999-08-06 02:42 PM


A somber poem. It sounds very personal and written from life's experience.

Well expressed.



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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 1999-08-06 03:49 PM


JP, I sincerely hope this is not of a personal nature, and you are not going through this torment. I saw my father go through emphesema, and my mother through cancer. Your description of the pain and torment came home to me again so vividly.

Please tell me, you're not the main character?

------------------
© KRJ
Sunshine
Words will always express our feelings true. ~~~ KRJ
Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
3 posted 1999-08-06 04:02 PM


JP

This poem really opened my eyes. I've never really thought about all the people out there who feel as though they are living a life better described in the book of Revelation, wherein people wish they could die but are condemned to live forever in a hell plagued with locusts with the tails of scorpions. This poem is a reflection of the tail of the scorpion, the plague of the locust. Well done.

Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
4 posted 1999-08-06 07:21 PM


About a year ago a good friend died of cancer. She was all of 40 years. Your words describe much of the pain she went through in chimo and radiation treatments. I do hope this poem does not speak of your current condition. In either case, my best to you for what you have expressed here.
PrincessDoo
Junior Member
since 1999-07-30
Posts 41
Cerritos, CA, USA
5 posted 1999-08-06 07:49 PM


i'm glad that you can write about your pain like this because it can help you deal with it.. i know if i could write like you have written about what i've been through, it would help me deal a bit better... thank you for sharing your words...

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823

JP
Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343
Loomis, CA
6 posted 1999-08-08 01:06 PM


Thanks for the comments everyone, and the well wishes.

PrincessDoo said, which many people believe; being able to write about something like this can help you deal with it.... Perhaps, perhaps not.

Emotional pain, sorrow, anger, hurt, etc... talking and writing can, and often does help... but being able to deal better with physical illness? I'm not so sure...

------------------
Dum spiro, spero
JP



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