Thursday, February 24, 2011

February has been a difficult month.

I've had an MS flare-up this month that has really kicked my butt in ways that it hasn't in years.  I think I can express my pain, frustration, and sadness best through poetry.

I have lived with chronic illness for 22 years
This awful month of cold, snow-darkness
My legs are betraying me again
8 months of difficult work in physical therapy - gone
Three day treatment - did not help
Of course, I will begin again
Through physical pain
Through lack of understanding by others
Through my anger 
Through my tears
Through my laughter.

I feel betrayed
By my body - again
By the people in my life who don't really want to hear 
about how difficult this is.
I am not feeling sorry for myself nor my friends who live with this disease
Of course, I will begin again.
Through patience with myself and others
Through understanding
Through love
I begin again the daily work of moving my body from point A to B
By not allowing MS to win;
It may in the end,
but that is not now.

So, I begin again
to work hard on moving my body
in yoga 
at home
exercise to stave off
weakness,
atrophy,
despair.
I will begin again 
To let go,
to heal.

2 comments:

  1. I am so sorry. First of all, it must be so hard when other don't know what it is like. (Including me.) Thanks for expressing it through this poem.

    What can I do to help Jeanette? I am sure with Gordon's schedule you spend a lot of time alone. Can I do anything?

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