it’s just pain

it’s just pain

fervent mantra

echoing in my

brain

knuckles fisted white

upon cane’s

smooth purple handle

muscles

tendons

resisting

stretching

tearing

shrieking

from ball

and socket

joint

vertebrae

compressed tight

rub against

each other

in annoyance

grating upon

each other’s

nerves

I list drunkenly

to the right

sailor who has

lost sea legs

tower with

crumbling

foundation

I take another

stagger step

it’s just pain

it’s just pain

©2021 Christine Elizabeth Ray – All Rights Reserved

Photo by Nathan DeFiesta on Unsplash