{"id":3803,"date":"2018-08-26T19:48:33","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T19:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/translatingpain\/?p=3803"},"modified":"2018-08-26T19:48:33","modified_gmt":"2018-08-26T19:48:33","slug":"the-break-of-day-by-jacqueline-woods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/a-bel-abroad\/the-break-of-day-by-jacqueline-woods\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Break of Day’, by Jacqueline Woods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pain paralyses.\u00a0<\/span>
\nIt hurts too much to move,<\/span>
\nto unlock, unhinge my joints,<\/span>
\nput pressure on my tender limbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

I will wait for my Carer:\u00a0<\/span>
\nmy lover, my friend,<\/span>
\nwho will lift me from my bed,<\/span>
\nmagnificently.<\/span><\/p>\n

My arms encircle his neck<\/span>
\nas I breathe in the salty sunshine<\/span>
\nof his skin, pressing my lips against<\/span>
\nthe cool ripple of his shoulder blade.<\/span><\/p>\n

He carries me to a bathroom<\/span>
\nof sunken marble and satin cushions,\u00a0<\/span>
\na garland of candles guides our way,<\/span>
\nI am Ophelia light: baptised, reborn.<\/span><\/p>\n

His devotion will wash\u00a0<\/span>
\nthe wounds of night away,<\/span>
\nunclench the claws which trap<\/span>
\nmy dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

I will bathe in his tenderness:<\/span>
\nmy twisted hands and swollen knees<\/span>
\nbrave and beautiful<\/span>
\nin his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

All will be well<\/span>
\nwhen he arrives.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n