Creepily Shrinking Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Pain in my ears, slow suffocation,
I have come to accept there is no
distraction from stiffening back and
neck while my ears are ringing with
tinnitus and my poor scalp is creepily
shrinking, it’s the apex of the pain

Everything I did to get rid of the pain
worsened it - alone with a text I am
useless, hearing my colleague typing
and knowing I’m making no progress,
I cannot ignore pain signals any more,
no insight left for an airport document

Muscles tightening around my throat
as if to create awareness of death while
withholding the sweet relief that actual
release from this suffering body would
bring, I’m forced to go on as my heart
is strong & my body does not give up