Don't hate me-- I wrote a poem.

Posted by joybo99 @joybo99, May 16 12:14pm

I can't share these feelings with people I know. So here you are: my latest testimonial to "exhaustion."
I call it STYX.
*****
Beyond Tired is the exhaustion,
Coming from a place I've never seen.
It's not someplace that I can go
And flip a switch or turn a knob.
Sometimes it trickles --but mostly flows
Like unseen plumbing behind a door,
Leaking water from a broken place
I cannot see, unreachable.
The damage seeps around my feet
Onto the floor and so much more.
Beneath a shining sun, blue sky
Everything beneath is soggy, wet
And heavy, mushy at my feet.
Stiff breezes make no ripple on the surface of this unwelcome pond.
Exhaustion sometimes dribbles sometimes flows.
No one cares to live with soggy feet.
Who wants to spend each day fighting the waves?
No sun or wind is powerful enough to dry the ocean.
Or a lake constantly fed by a waterfall of fatigue and damnation.
Cry me a river.

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Terre Folgrr | @tfolger | May 18 9:17pm

Poetry is an effective way to write to figure out what you think and how you’re feeling, don’t you think? Exhaustion feels heavy to me and I just can’t move. Your soggy feet metaphor makes sense, too.
Keep writing! Nobody will ever hate you for that, sweetie.

mahmoud123 | @mahmoud123 | May 18 11:37pm

In reply to @joybo99 "I wish I could read that. Saturday greetings" + (show)

It was very beautiful, well done

kimlynn | @kimlynn | May 19 1:16am

I really appreciate you sharing this beautiful poem. As I was reading the words I could feel your pain. I know what it feels like to feel all alone in this agony and despair. But finding your poem made me realize that I am not as alone as I thought. This vessel of a body has thrown many curve balls in my lifetime, yet I always seemed to catch the ball at the right moment before it hit the ground. This time is much different and Im to weak to even try because the pain in my body consumes all my strength. I was truly at my end when I started looking for support groups and I am thankful that I came across mayo clinic that lets us connect with people that are feeling all alone yet there are so many out there at this very moment that are going through similar things. Thank you again

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 19 10:41am

In reply to @kimlynn "I really appreciate you sharing this beautiful poem. As I was reading the words I could..." + (show)

@kimlynn Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As you familiarize yourself with our support groups, I bet you will find others who share experiences and health conditions similar to yours. We are here to support each other. It is always a blessing to find we are not alone, isn't it? What health conditions groups will you peruse today?
Ginger

lu91 | @lu91 | May 19 12:07pm

To joybo99. Keep your sense of humor throughout your exhaustion and pain because

The clock of life is wound but once
and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop
at late or early hour
Now is the only time you own
to love and seek His will
Place no faith in tomorrow
for the clock may then be still

joybo99 | @joybo99 | May 19 12:57pm

In reply to @tfolger "Poetry is an effective way to write to figure out what you think and how you’re..." + (show)

Thanks So much

samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | May 19 3:48pm

wonderful poem!

so sorry about all you have been going through.

You are not alone in having extreme symptoms and being utterly drained by the fight.

I get about two hours, right in the morning that are ok.

Then, another 4 hours that are worse, but somewhat tolerable.

Then the rest of the day is a pure battle.

Sometimes chronic pain and fatigue and medical problems feel like we are soldiers on the battlefield.

One thing I have found helpful...is to accept that kind of model. That we are now in a different world.

And live the best moment we can through that different world.

For me, I have found that some of the biggest problems are when we compare our lives to what we had before.

That is just a kind of torture.

It's a different life, a hard life, a kind of "mercenary" life. But, within it is still some beauty and joy and peace. Might have to fight some to find that, but in my experience it is there. And, in the experience of many folks I have found in the community of the chronically sick.

Do take care.