This Shell (a body broken)

This Shell This body you see the dark hair the green eyes lips that kiss, and a smile that shines are just a cover like a book I am only the pages do not hold words they hold life mine, and what I have lived touched tasted and lost my eyesight now is blurred glasses sit on the stand waiting for my waking so that what goes bump in the night is not me my arms ache from arthritis in pain I clutch pen to write turning blank pages in journals blank like my mind goes when I try to hold thoughts together sleep is no longer a luxury it is a requirement some nights 6, others 10 hours to get me to the point I can function the next day I have scars from surgery pieces of me taken for research parts of flesh and bone that no longer functioned as they should I am no less a man now than when I was born true I can not fall down stairs without breaking bones I can not read for hours without assistance in focusing and pain is a part of life But my mind is intact desires of love and happiness grow and thrive and dreams come to me in slumber take my hands, I can touch you with my words take my eyes, I will see you with my mind take my pain, no that keeps me alert, knowledge I am living take me as I am A man complete alive William S. Dawes © Copyright 2002 1st Poet Inc. Written January 13th, 2002 © on Jan 13 2002 10:16 AM PST   0 • 10