Sciatic Nerve 

Alive with pain masking all potential joy,
The sciatic nerve, rebels against bone,
Sends its red outcry to my evening brain,
Tells its red story of hurt. 

Soon joy shall triumph over pain,
Morning shall surprise fields of joy,
A friend shall open rich bedside gifts—
I shall be whole.

But not now, not this evening
Given to this fiery rebellion,
Occupied with this pain, this dull task
Of reviewing my rounded life.

_____

James Bolner, Sr.
December, 2001