Phantom Limb

Working through the letting go process of an important familial relationship

You are the leg I lost, and

all the pain killers taken  

to  deaden the raw nerve endings

work . . .most of the time. 

I have prosthetic compensation

that  I keep having to learn

how to use  over and over

with each new terrain

carved out by the latest rejection.

I  have even learned how

to skip through the pool of tears

I cried yesterday, last week  or

a few minutes ago.

I have learned how to ignore the

incessant dull ache while not limping

and doing other distracting things.

I have discovered am valuable nonetheless

as so many assure me,  and I know how

to rest in Him gratefully.

But,

at the end of the day

I look down and mourn anew

Still, I have lost my leg.                        

 

10/27/16

Author's Note

Been going back and forth with title and first line. The title now is the original, and I again went back to "the leg" from "a leg". I'd changed it after a review that assumed I had only one physical leg. Thoughts is the metaphore clear, or do I need to go to "Like a Phantom Leg" and/or "a leg". Or make the you stand out "YOU"? comments appreciated.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the ache is still there...the missing limb itches the heart---

what once was there is not----

like in Ars Poetica---"like an empty doorway or a maple leaf"

heartache in a poem...

[Jo R.]

Still there, and still there. Thanks for your words, Jacob!

[Dara]

You have put together a very powerful write here that I can relate to. Your comparison to losing a limb to a partner is most touching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings as you moved on through this difficult time.

[Jo R.]

Thanks Dara, it is actually my daughter that the estrangement is about and indeed this has been a most difficult time!

[Dara]

Yes, it can be awful. I have found that trying too hard to fix things only makes it worse as well. Sometimes you just have to wait it out and that is very difficult. Hope is gets better soon.

[Jo R.]

Thanks for your kind words, Dara. Jo

[Pete]

You are my new hero. You are an inspiration. I have both my legs and still need him. I need him when my soul feels prosthetic. Thanks for sharing this. You lifted my day.

[Jo R.]

Thanks Pete! Glad that this spoke to you in a way that lifted your day. Your response in turn, lifted mine. Jo

[Jo R.]

Oh....I just reread your review. I too have both my literal legs, this is a metaphor for the estrangement with someone I deeply care about.

[Pete]

Sorry - your metaphor was written so well that I took it literally (I'm a little tired). My apologies - you cared for this person so much that you feel as though you lost a limb.

[Jo R.]

No problem, I just didn't want to be out there under false pretenses.... ;-)

[Pete]

My mistake. You did such a great job that I took the metaphor literally!