The Alternative Poem by Michael DeVries

Every day this battle is fought
joy and sorrow rage within me
but sorrow prevails.
The beast suddenly, violently
forces its will upon me
and I am hamstrung
Uncaringly, unthinkingly
it pierces my weakness, my flaw
over and over, until at the last I am
Incapacitated and undone.
every thought, every movement
requires all the will I can bring to bear.
Dear God, what is this?
I dread continuing life
more than I fear death
Yet I stay,
chained to this place, held
by fear of the consequences of
The Alternative.