trying my hand at poety

Trigger warning: The last two verses (after the jump) mention the death/murder of people with disabilities. It's not explicit, I think. But everyone has their own comfort levels.

I am not invisible

I am not invisible

this may be obvious as I stand here

all 5'4" of me

feisty with anger

Or meek with the submission I learned to adopt

(and relearned with my disability)

"Invisible disability"

Invisible to whom?

I am not invisible to me

My forced breathing

my eyes clenched tight in pain

The tight way I hold my body to try to stop the waves

the twitches

the sometimes spasms

the way I can't move my head much

This is not invisible to me

30 Things About My Illness - Meme for Invisible Illness Week

(Written September 2, 2009)
1. The illness I live with is: chronic daily headache/migraine, chronic back/neck/shoulder pain
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2003
3. But I had symptoms since: 2002
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is :asking for help and admitting that I can't do everything.
5. Most people assume: It varies. That I'm not actually in as much pain as I am. That they should "protect" me, and that they have some right to treat me like a child. That I am perfectly healthy.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Waking up and remembering and am still in pain.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: House MD
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My computer
9. The hardest part about nights are: On average, the nights when I remember I have difficulty relaxing in the same manner most college students do (i.e. partying, hanging out with friends, etc.). Not only does it make me lonely, it reminds me that things that are easy for them or things they don't even have to think about, are difficult for me.