A Painful Journey Poem by Joseph T. Renaldi

I have lived all of my life with heartaches and pain,
A trying experience of distress, loneliness, and strain.
Years of abuse and ridicule that were definitely unfair,
And more prevalent than most folks could ever bare.

A life I lived in both a physical and emotional muddle,
My mind filled with anxiety - my heart on a path to crumble.
Since birth I dealt with outbreaks of debilitating health,
Though I worked every day, I never gained much wealth.

Some folks I encounter seem to look down on me as less,
In order to survive I tell myself, ' I am as good as the rest.'
I was always told to ' grit my teeth and knit my brow, '
But for some unknown reason I could never learn how.

I sob every night beneath my bed covers in the dark,
And recall some of the ruthlessness and an obscene remark,
But each morning I arise to face the day to do my best,
Still the harder I work I am not treated like the rest.

It is if I were born gross, disfigured, and scarred,
The utmost of evil, disgusting, stained and marred.
My friend once told me, ' You may be snake bit.'
Hang in there, and whatever you do, ' Don't ever quit? '

So with encouragement and prayer on my journey of life,
My fortunes will turn around and stray from worldly strife.
I will function with honesty and integrity and will be true
To both my family and friends and this is what I aim to do.

For now I'll try believing in myself with faith and hope
And pray each day to God for the strength to always cope
As I continue to encounter problems that may never wane.
I know in due time God's blessings will cleanse me of pain.