No Race Today

Left leg
on strike,
brain
disengaged,
energy
scrounging
for re-charge
coming up empty

Body
derelict –
this illness
sensual agony –
forgive
my silences,
any absences

Spirit
like a racehorse
strains against
the reins
too taut,
hungry
to feel
the wind
in its stride,
breath
freedom.

Gate is closed.

(The challenge of living with chronic illness is to maintain balance.  There is a disconnect between what the body is capable of and what the spirit aspires to accomplish.  Today, body wins.  Thank you to Sammi Cox for the Weekend Writing Prompt: derelict; to Fandango for sensual; and to Daily Addictions for agony – all words that help convey this experience.)

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VJ

Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

23 thoughts on “No Race Today”

  2. Great poem! I love how your spirit has the last word. I am also struggling with chronic pain and take encouragement from your words. Thanks!

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  3. Being a chronic patient can relate to this. It’s so hard to keep good spirit sometimes. Feel so depressed but there is no other way except acceptance and live with it. Beautifully expressed.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I do so empathize, V.J. 😦 With me its my right leg that left me derelict for the past few months. I find rest is the best when it hampers my ability to concentrate. I yearn for freedom also. Hope tomorrow is a better day and the gate opens a tad.

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  7. I loved the frank realisation of the body in conflict with the mind, I know all about that one which always has me saying it sucks getting old. Excellent response VJ.

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