Pain — Abnish Singh Chauhan

Pain comes and goes,
like breath—
a whisper in, a sigh out,
lingering before it fades.

Many see me,
as though I were
a well of joy overflowing.
Why do they not know—
or perhaps,
choose not to—
the truth beneath?

The wind rises,
moves with force,
steals my weary breath,
flings it far away,
leaving behind
only a deeper ache.

Who cares?
What is here,
what is there,
and what is not?

And I—
make every effort
to stand and walk
the path of life,
fighting to break free
from the chains that bind me.

***