The Problem With Pain
Say it Plainly
the problem with pain is
we can only truly know our own
in our attempts to understand others
we compare it to historical data
experience, the only frame of reference
๐โ ๐โ โ หโ ๐ฅโ หโ โ ๐โ ๐
some imagine it to be a mystical journey
othering it
mythologizing the pain
giving it reverence
as if it holds some magical power
having seen pain overcome
in a way they admire
unaware of what you and I know
pain is not the catalyst for greatness
merely an ingredient in the current final product
a defect, that entered the life of the victim
no longer separable
๐โ ๐โ โ หโ ๐ฅโ หโ โ ๐โ ๐
pain can take no claim
it's not the originator of the
magic that streams from its
tormented creator
๐โ ๐โ โ หโ ๐ฅโ หโ โ ๐โ ๐
those with no drive
want to steal from those who know
who were thrown away
and still, they rise
๐โ ๐โ โ หโ ๐ฅโ หโ โ ๐โ ๐
those overcoming the teeming lack of
ambition and sight, they're drowning in
beaten down by circumstance
and still rise up every morning to
continue a losing fight
๐โ ๐โ โ หโ ๐ฅโ หโ โ ๐โ ๐
those watching from the sidelines
like the audience at a prize fight
will never understand the fact of the matter
the choice was made
deep down long ago
to build up character
to seek out love
to throw away fear
to run towards the light
K.B. Silver
About the Creator
K.B. Silver
K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.
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Comments (12)
This really hit home for me: congratulations KB on the Top Story. โฎ๏ธ
Congratulations on Top Story !
A poetic analysis of pain and its process. Beautifully written โฅ๏ธ
Also congrats on Top Story!
I'd agree with Oneg and Sara. This was beautifully written KB.
Plainly and clearly said, poet
Beautiful!
Smells like a winner to me! Congrats on your top story! ๐
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ WOW ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ Congrats Top Story๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ
I kept coming back to the line โpain is not the catalyst for greatness, merely an ingredient.โ That hit differently because so many people love to romanticize struggle, like suffering automatically turns into something noble or meaningful. But the way you frame it here feels more honestโlike pain just shows up uninvited and then people have to figure out how to live with it, carry it, maybe even build something despite it. The part about the โaudience at a prize fightโ also stuck with me because it really captures how easy it is for people outside the experience to interpret someone elseโs struggle. Do you think people mythologize pain because it makes it easier to understand, or because the truth of it is actually harder to face?
"pain is not the catalyst for greatness" That is soooo true! Loved your poem!