I was never really prepared for the pain,

never knew when it would hit.

Even though I braced myself,

I found myself reeling,

gasping for breath.

Nothing had ever hurt so badly.

It was unbearable at first,

a crushing blow to me,

then subsided to a dull throb.

But every once in a while it would come back,

the sheer bulk of it all.

It returned again and again.

It cut into me,

deeper and deeper.

I thought I would die but I didn't,

I lived to feel its wrath repeatedly.

A venomous snake,

wrapping itself around my very being

why wouldn't it just go away?

I suppose as time goes on, it would someday disappear,

or would it be replaced by something even worse?

Is there no end to this affliction?

Will I ever be finally free of this anguish?