'Flash' writing anthology about chronic pain - submissions welcome!

Tag: gratitude

‘PHOTOTHERAPY’, by Angi Holden

She stands uncertainly inside the cubicle, exposed to light from a dozen UV tubes.

Machinery hums softly, the seconds tick away.

A narrow slit connects her to the outside world.

 

Friends have seen her skin, inflamed and bleeding, her swollen eyelids. She hasn’t mentioned synapse pain, the 2am, 3am, 4am explosions waking her, holding back the edge of sleep, just out of reach.

 

She hears the hum die down; the door swings open.

Gentle hands steady her, lift the visor, remove her goggles.

Back on terra firma, the treatment room, she dresses slowly.

The techie’s voice reminds her to shower cool, to wear soft clothes, to moisturise.

‘Let me know if you are sore, just call.’

She wonders what she’s done to deserve such kindness or is this simply how the world should be?

And even though her treatment’s hardly started something breaks inside. She dreads its ending.

 

  • by Angi Holden

UK

 

twitter:  @josephsyard

‘I feel the music’ by Wendy Jones

I feel the music

This orchestra of mine
I jest your intimacy
Embracing every shard
With love and warmth
But should you say goodbye
And leave me before I die
I shall stand and run and dance
To an air of triumph!

But should you chance to be
With me ‘til the end
No matter if we both
Entwine the undergrowth
And lie together meekly
Til the last note gently
Fades away…

 

  • by Wendy Jones

 

Further information: https://poetryatnightblog.wordpress.com/

‘i am the most selfish person ever’ by socks

i often say i wouldnt wish this disease on my worst enemy. i wouldnt. no one deserves this. but i am so glad you understand, that i am not Alone… i wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy, so Why am I glad my best friend has it? i am the worlds biggest hypocrite…

 

  • by socks

England

‘In the name of Pain’, by Suchitra Awasthi

Pain is a pre-requisite to Creation. Take for example the process of bringing forth life. Albeit it is a painful process, nevertheless, it is also a glorious creation. History stands testimony to the fact that all the great ones who ever walked the Earth have

risen to great heights walking through the aisle of pain. “Love till it hurts” is the beautiful message bequeathed to us by Mother Teresa. I consider myself fortunate to have known a few “chosen” ones who have borne the cross of their lives with a brave heart.

Their lives have made me understand the significance of the maxim of “Grace Under Pressure “. Living in the proximity of pain, at this watershed moment of my life, I endeavour to explore the uncharted realm of Metaphysics and as I inch towards it silently,

I experience the power of the Void in my own quaint way.

 

  • by Suchitra Awasthi

UK/India

‘A MEDLEY OF PAIN POPS’, by ford dagenham

PAIN AND ITS KILLERS

relief
is
an 
acceptable inevitable storm-head alarm
that holds back its rain
and mumbles thunder instead

a hard-sell of cotton ignorance
on the sofa that’s the world

MOON

the days hurt
and
the nights – well 

they’re a VHS video-nasty
trembling on pause

I only hope 
the
the
moon
knows
why I yell at him

FAR FAR AWAY

drugs argue 
in my blood
and
bedside drawer

like married pensioners and their TV shows

I
just
wish
they could get along

far far away
without me

ITS THE WAY I TELL THEM

I told the Dr
that it all hurts SO much
and I’m SO tired SO much
and its SO very hard to THINK now
that it makes me want to CRY
but I CAN’T cry
I told the Dr
cos of all the antidepressants

and she barked involuntary laughter
and suggested I swim

 

  • by ford dagenham

hatchbacks on fire: author website

UK

‘Hagalaz’, by Ruth V. Chalkley

In Lithuanian, runoti means both “to cut (with a knife)” and “to speak”.

      Hail: Hagalaz
      Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness, crisis.

       Spirit-breaker
       Faith-Taker
       Misery-Maker
       Joy-Stealer
       Dream-Breaker
       Shadow-Hound.    

       Thought-Waker
       Friend-Fooler
       Life-Dealer
       Mood-Carver
       Time-Stealer
       Life-Hider.

        Sometimes, some time,
        Signal-Saver.

 

U.K.