Pain, my muse

I wake, tracing the ridges on once smooth skin

The cobbled path of scars I take to the eastern sky, is slow

Upright, I stretch and bend, still flexible,

some even say strong and resilient

But me?  I’m not sure anymore.

Boots on, I trudge under gum trees, green from rain, not tears

My footfall is now lighter, alone was a heavy load,

so I swapped with solitude many years ago,

a fair exchange

to hear the uncaged bird sing, the song of freedom with me.

Or so I thought.

Another day, another dollar …

Nightfall, I return to where I started from

Reaching in that empty space

Where you once used to be

And, I wonder

Would I be happier, if you were still with me?

The question remains unanswered.

a dawn bird