BACK ACHE

 

For two years or so and some two years at least,

I’ve had a companion a sabre-toothed beast,

It bit at my backbone and gnawing quite deep,

Impinged on my patience and severed my sleep.

 

But miracle medicines dealt it a blow,

From which no revenge ridden river could flow,

But it made me recall from the days that are past,

The unwanted companions whose memories last.

 

There was anger ‘a real beast’, who tortured my soul,

She brought on depressions much blacker than coal,

And lust that so burned me the blisters have scarred,

With the mind games of marriages faulted and marred.

 

I have no regrets and perhaps that’s a boon,

The pleasures of life are forgotten too soon,

The things that have hurt you are permanent fire,

Some penance for saints or escape for the liar.

 

It’s easy this century ‘be what you need’,

But just like poor Shylock ‘you cut me I bleed’

The pain in my back will now fade from recall,

While experience places her brick in my wall.

 

For the walls that I build shelter me from the truth,

And the pain that I’ve caused since the days of my youth,

While the pleasures I’ve given seem fleeting and few,

With my pottage for Esau a festering stew.

 

When I’m caused to compassion the cynical side,

Puts an Imp on my shoulder to damn and deride,

High hurdles before me, a heavy barred gate,

With the constant reminder ‘how fickle your fate.’

 

So returning to back ache, cessation of pain,

Companions you’d rather not meet with again,

The festering stew that you may call remorse,

With anger born arguments focusing force.

 

The miracle medicines science provides,

Exposes what all our reality hides,

The hurt is still there as the drugs mask the pain,

And hope gives a sad song a different refrain.

 

For the moment my sabre-tooth’s safe in his cage,

The shoulder born Imp walks a different stage,

Esau is feasting on roast beef and mash,

And Shylock’s contentedly counting his cash.

 

So everyone’s happy and really why not,

The sun is still shining and look what we’ve got,

The wonders of medicine palliative care,

What reason could we have to drift to despair?