IN ONE CORNER, DESPERATION

 IN ONE CORNER, DESPERATION

In my corner, here I sit,

Wondering just where I fit.

Kind of a recluse, and not of much use

For anything these days.

Heavy of limb and painful of hip,

Too many crashes in this fleshly Mother Ship.

I've more or less stopped doing,

In favor of just being,

I am finding consolation,

With a brand new way of seeing.

In my corner looking frazzled,

Where once I charmed and once I dazzled.

No meds and I am stiff as stone,

Too many and limbs have a mind of their own.

Opposing forces fight for my soul,

As I prance and lurch about,

There are no simple answers,

No easy way out.

In one corner disease and death,

In another corner counting breaths,

In dyskinetic meditation,

A prolonged hesitation.

In one corner, sweet surrender,

Heaven bound I sail,

A disillusioned Ishmael,

Doing battle with the great white whale.

In one corner there's a slasher,

Knifing out my soul,

In another corner my better self

Struggles for control.

Who knows which fighter will survive,

Continue on to win the race,

In one corner desperation,

In the other, days of grace.

-Bruce Potts

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