{"id":3699,"date":"2018-06-22T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T09:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/translatingpain\/?p=3699"},"modified":"2018-05-23T22:31:47","modified_gmt":"2018-05-23T22:31:47","slug":"central-pain-syndrome-naming-the-beast-by-doug-sharp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/translatingpain\/2018\/06\/22\/central-pain-syndrome-naming-the-beast-by-doug-sharp\/","title":{"rendered":"‘CENTRAL PAIN SYNDROME: NAMING THE BEAST’, by Doug Sharp"},"content":{"rendered":"

body hangs off me like a scab,<\/span>
\ntorture-punished brain a scared little animal peering out of skull,<\/span>
\nrats gnaw at the base of psyche,\u00a0<\/span>
\nlick rusty razor blade,\u00a0<\/span>
\nelectric flame slice belly,\u00a0<\/span>
\nfiery metal spears dangle from gut,\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe great beast paws idly at my entrails,<\/span>
\nsparking shark teeth chew slowly up leg,<\/span>
\nthrust scorching metal skewers slowly down meat of thighs,<\/span>
\npack burning steel wool into hollow shrieking calves,<\/span>
\nporcupine worms writhe inside veins forever chewing out of meat and skin,\u00a0<\/span>
\nskate barefoot across field of burning blades,<\/span>
\nwalk face first into blazing buzz saw,\u00a0<\/span>
\nagain,\u00a0<\/span>
\nagain,\u00a0<\/span>
\nagain,<\/span><\/p>\n

I can feel the flames\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

but I can\u2019t see the light.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

The image shows my face looking upwards with beams of pain shooting from my eyes. I hide behind a purple beard. Alien antennas sprout from my broad-brimmed hat. My face is neutral–hiding my pain.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n