Written by Katherine Ottaway MD
In the hospital, past,
I am told we have a new Vital Sign
Like blood pressure and pulse
We are to measure pain
And always treat it
Sometimes I wonder
Mr. X is in the ICU
I tell his family
He may die
On a scale of one to ten
What is his wife’s pain?
His daughter’s
We are not treating them
Only Mr. X
We try to suppress pain
Signals from our nerves
Physical pain is easier
I think of our great forests
We suppressed fire
And that was wrong
If fire is suppressed
Undergrowth builds up
Fuel levels rise
Fire comes
Rages out of control
All is destroyed
If fires burn
More naturally
More regularly
What is left?
At first it looks desolate
The tall trees are burnt
Around their bases
But they live
Adapted to the fire
Majestic pines
Revealed
Would our values were as clear
Some pines
Seeds
Pinecones
Will only germinate in fire
When the undergrowth is cleared
Conditions are right for new growth
Perhaps pain is our fire
Grief is our fire
If we block pain
Where does it go?
Does the fuel build?
I wonder if the tall pines fear fire
Would they avoid it if they could?
Perhaps suppression
Is not the answer
Perhaps we can change
Remain present
Acknowledge pain
As normal
As joy
Perhaps if I step into the fire
I can remain present
For you
And you will be
Less alone
Less afraid
I open my doors
Let the fire burn
Text © Katherine Ottaway MD
Edge of Humanity Magazine’s
FREE Projects & Other Services
To Promote Works From Artists,
Photographers, Poets & Writers
PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK, SHORT STORIES & MUSIC Recommendations FREE Platform For Artists NO MIDDLEMAN ART GALLERY In The Mind Of An Artist Open Submissions for Writers & Poets Photo Curator PRESS RELEASE On Edge of Humanity Magazine Photography Articles
Edge of Humanity Magazine is an independent nondiscriminatory platform that has no religious, political, financial, or social affiliations.
We are committed to publishing the human condition, the raw diverse global entanglement, with total impartiality.
Support This Small Independent Magazine
Please
DONATE
Follow Edge of Humanity Magazine
Email Subscriptions
WordPress Bloggers
Follow Edge of Humanity Magazine on WordPress.com
Not on WordPress?
Don’t Forget to add
to your reader or bookmarks
Thank you!
I can really resonate with this. My doctors treated my chronic pain with oxycodone for 14 years increasing the dosage until I was on 120 my a day! Then they told me to come off it as I was addicted. It took me 4 months to wean myself off it. I felt so much better without it. Now I take responsibility for my health. I still listen to my doctors but I keep myself informed so I can make an informed decision about what I take and what other therapies are open to me. ❌❤❌
timely, great poem.