Chronic Illness

a weakened body
illness can be severe
isolation from the world
somehow I’ll persevere

to others I look “normal”
but I’m a mess inside
asked “How are you doing?”
I reply, “I’m fine”

“It could be worse,
at least it’s not cancer”
chronic means forever
there is simply no answer

numbness and tingling
forever my plight
constant pain with little relief
I am a warrior, I must fight