Proprietary Rites

PROPRIETARY RITES

These aches, these cruel

crucifying pains

do not belong to me -

today they own me,

clamping my lower limbs

in their psychotic embrace.

Through throbbing knees

and tiresome aching hips

they pour out scorn

on all my hopes

of overcoming;

today, they overwhelm me.

Malcolm Evison

14 September 2017

(Draft V)