Pain

Annual infractions, intrusions, early summer inflictions,
breaking my body, testing my will, repair a distant dream,
set challenges, abrade my skin and brace for a salt water dousing.

Doubts and despair, ebb and surge whilst calm contentment,
bridled positivity, from nowhere gains an unlikely foothold.
These stange bedfellows do battle for their moment.

Whilst chaos and pain envelop, dictate and impel
an aged body, weakened, addressing mortality, assuming falability,
a time comes for all. There is no fear, just a shrugged resignation.

From nowhere, a gift of words, a smile, a glance,
an unfamiliar touch. A warmth to guide,
casting aside the darkness. The pain absorbed, a broken frame eased.