Too Many Aches And Ailments At Once Poem by Shalom Freedman

TOO MANY ACHES AND AILMENTS AT ONCE

Too many aches and ailments at once
A remedy for one causes new problems with another-
Tiredness is all-

Death is not feared-
Is it cowardly to want a way out?

One wills oneself to be courageous-
This thing is tried
And then another tried
One pain down another irritation up -

I cough and I ache and I long to rest
A poem cannot end the pains
Writing is only a minor distraction-

It is not good to be sick
And less good when one is old
Will I ever be alright again?

I have gotten out of this before
I will this time get out of it again-

But in the years to come?