Pain Tells You That You’re Still Alive

Pain Tells You That You’re Still Alive

It’s quarter to three,
In the morning,

Yet persistently

Pain carries on;

And on.

Relentlessly stabbing me

With its fiery blades.

Whichever way I try to turn

It beats me to the punch

Getting there first

To claim its right of tenure.

Like a squatter,

But, without good cause,

Pain thumbs its nose

At the authority

Of my ownership

To the muscle,

Bone and nerves

It has taken

Deep residence within.

A common truism

States that pain,

Though a pain,

Tells you:

“You’re alive!”

“Great”, I growl,

“It’s now 3 am,

I know I’m alive,

As you’ve been

Telling me

All day long.

Now go,

And come back later,

If you feel the need

To further remind me

That I’m still alive!”