The Sheer Physicality Of Pain Poem by Susan Lacovara

I do better with pain of the heart
Then that which riddles my bones
On another rainy day

I can medicate my lonely hours
With love songs from the seventies
And find an anecdote
In the opening of an artist's easel

But when tugged on
By the returning, if not, never leaving pain
Of pieces worn out by time
And too many burdens
Breaking my stride and stance
Like a wounded winged bird
Who dreams of flight
I stay tethered
To this all too familiar branch

The heart heals with patience
And promise
And recovery gives way to strength
The journey back, however long
Seems well worth the trip

In comparison, the countless hours
Slip into weeks, months, years
Of inflammation of too many tears
Bandages to cover the spirit sliced
Insulted by what limits my going on
Getting through, feeling better
My best self, put to the test
Of the ongoing boot camp maneuvers
Climbing that impending wall

How resilient the heart
Bruised, beaten down, broken
That it defies all odds and recovers
Time after time after time

Couldn't it be the surgeon
On call, now, for my sadly stretched soul
Showing up for daily rounds
Diagnosing what brings dismay
And offering the prognosis
Of a full recovery