Illness as Metaphor

 --
over seventy windblown years
tied to the mast patience has eluded me
leaving me to hum along the shrillest
siren call in grating irritation

struggling to find or develop
a minimal measure of discernment
to catch my breath one breath
between the healing itch the mending pain
and the vicious nag of wounding aches

might say my suspicious mind
dove for a dark, silty bottom
and found the drain unclogging gratitude
or trust to sluice & flush a pressured dram
of bittersweet relief
--