The Problem With Pain
Say it Plainly
the problem with pain is
we can only truly know our own
in our attempts to understand others
we compare it to historical data
experience, the only frame of reference
πβ πβ β Λβ π₯β Λβ β πβ π
some imagine it to be a mystical journey
othering it
mythologizing the pain
giving it reverence
as if it holds some magical power
having seen pain overcome
in a way they admire
unaware of what you and I know
pain is not the catalyst for greatness
merely an ingredient in the current final product
a defect, that entered the life of the victim
no longer separable
πβ πβ β Λβ π₯β Λβ β πβ π
pain can take no claim
it's not the originator of the
magic that streams from its
tormented creator
πβ πβ β Λβ π₯β Λβ β πβ π
those with no drive
want to steal from those who know
who were thrown away
and still, they rise
πβ πβ β Λβ π₯β Λβ β πβ π
those overcoming the teeming lack of
ambition and sight, they're drowning in
beaten down by circumstance
and still rise up every morning to
continue a losing fight
πβ πβ β Λβ π₯β Λβ β πβ π
those watching from the sidelines
like the audience at a prize fight
will never understand the fact of the matter
the choice was made
deep down long ago
to build up character
to seek out love
to throw away fear
to run towards the light
K.B. Silver
About the Creator
K.B. Silver
K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.
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Why Didn't Anyone Tell Us
Men, move along. This is not for you. This is for the women. I was forty-five when I began menopause. It is pretty young for that to be going on in a womanβs life, but I had undiagnosed PCOS, my entire life. Thank you to all the gynecologists I had seen my entire life. That in itself should encourage women to keep seeking second opinions, especially when you are not getting correct answers or any at all.
By Alexandra Grant6 days ago in Humans
Comments (6)
Beautiful!
Smells like a winner to me! Congrats on your top story! π
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! ππππππ
π«π«π«π«π«π«π« WOW π«π«π« Congrats Top Storyπ«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«
I kept coming back to the line βpain is not the catalyst for greatness, merely an ingredient.β That hit differently because so many people love to romanticize struggle, like suffering automatically turns into something noble or meaningful. But the way you frame it here feels more honestβlike pain just shows up uninvited and then people have to figure out how to live with it, carry it, maybe even build something despite it. The part about the βaudience at a prize fightβ also stuck with me because it really captures how easy it is for people outside the experience to interpret someone elseβs struggle. Do you think people mythologize pain because it makes it easier to understand, or because the truth of it is actually harder to face?
"pain is not the catalyst for greatness" That is soooo true! Loved your poem!