KNEE BRACE PRESS

A place for stories about chronic illness, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

Oh To Wash Off This Pain

By

Takes awhile to get into the shower. I slip in cautiously,
use the grab bar, pull the bath bench in behind me.
With the hand-held shower, I spritz water over me,
sit on the bench. Low back pain stabs me whether I sit or stand.

I let the water flood my back, pray to the Lords of the Quadratus muscles
that hot water will erase this pain. Easing the spray over my shoulders,
the tension lessens. I whisper move on down. But today, as in every day

the Lords do not bless me. I towel off, dress carefully to prevent
loss of balance, creep towards the couch
to lie flat; the only position that helps.

For a few moments, the tide of pain ebbs.

Contributor

  • A white woman with short, light brown hair smiles at the camera. She wears blue-rimmed glasses and a pink polo shirt.

    Barbara Brooks, a retired physical therapist is the author of three chapbooks, “The Catbird Sang”, “A Shell to Return to The Sea”, and “Watercolors.” She has had poems published in The Piker Press, The Remington Review, The Magnolia Review and most recently in Brillig micro mag journal. She lives in Hillsborough NC with her dog.