September is almost here, and with it comes thoughts of autumn.
For some of us it means tree pollen, increased migraines, fantastic
thunderstorms that are magnificent to behold, but is accompanied by barometric
pressure changes that can wreak havoc. Soon we will experience weather that chills
us to the bone. For those of us with arthritis we expect an upsurge in joint
pain, and for others exposure will aggravate Raynaud’s symptoms, and more. But as
with everything in life, the autumn season holds crisp clean smelling air, a
respite from the oppression of the summer heat, and the promise of September,
the month of in between.
Most exciting for advocates is that September is the month of
Chronic Pain Awareness. In honor of this, I am choosing to share one of my
poems. I want to give September an early kick off, like preseason football.
During September, I will present a blog on the newest criteria for diagnosing
fibromyalgia and a three part series based on a guest column I am preparing for
the Kansas City Nursing News, written with patients in mind.
So here is my poem. Feel free to share A Call to Arms: Pain, Politics, and Witchery, but please include my signature line and a link to this
blog to avoid any copyright infringements.
A Call to Arms: Pain,
Politics, and Witchery
One hundred million people with untreated pain,
Exploited by those for their own personal gain.
Political agendas, skewed reporting, all morally wrong.
Treatments denied, no peer review, but patients be strong.
Trust, communication, values the human approach,
Are executive healthcare decisions above reproach?
Media firestorms to make headlines cause harm;
Agendas void of human welfare is cause for alarm.
So ask, “Who gains most from their hidden agenda?”
Protection of innocent should be the addenda.
Pain has no schedule, yet patients endure blame,
Let’s demand transparency, hold the moth to the flame.
If you are reading this poem, it won’t strike you funny,
That all these and more are about pain for the money.
Beware; they ride their broom like a witch in the night.
Employ your integrity; show them all, how it’s done right.
We are raped of our dignity, oppressed by others.
There’s a moral imperative, hold accountable our brothers.
Things won’t transform in the blink of an eye,
But certain—nothing
happens—if we don’t try.
Pick up paper, your pen, ring your voice loud, and clear.
Friends ban together for the rights we endear.
Senators, execs, media—exit our exam room,
Employ human agendas or ride away on your broom.
You can read more about my advocacy on my website under the tab “For Pain
in Pain.”
Writing poetry has allowed me to find things about myself
that I never knew existed. I have only been able to dig that deep through this
form of self-expression. It is raw, it is enlightening, it is liberating, and
it is real, at least to me. Every book of the five books we (my co-author Jeff
Miller, PhD and me) have published includes how to use poetry as a tool for
coping, and each book gives tips on how to write various types of poems. I am
not a poet by profession, only a patient that found a way to learn more about
myself through the words.
If you are interested in taking this journey, find “Creating
an I AM Poem,” here.
In healing and hope
for changing the way pain is perceived, judged, and treated.
~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
"Adversity is only an
obstacle if we fail to see opportunity." Celeste Cooper, RN
Books:
Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See Saw of
Chronic Pain [Four book series]
Integrative
Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain
Advocacy:
Fibromyalgia expert on Sharecare, here.
Participant in the Pain Acition Alliance to Implement a National
Strategy, here.
All
answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not
meant to replace medical advice.
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