I Wish It Was

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Original Article:
Arthritis Poem Spreads Awareness by ANRF
Poetry by Nathan Koller, “I Wish It Was”
https://curearthritis.org/arthritis-poem-spreads-awareness/

“I Wish It Was” an arthritis poem by Nathan Koller

I’m writing this because of medication

Medication that makes me wanna write a proclamation.

A proclamation explaining the desperation in which I feel.

I’m curling over in pain

Hoping that one day I’ll gain.

Gain the ability to go a day without pain

Without having to take pill after pill

Watching my parents sweat over medical bills

Because I feel it’s ridiculous

Ridiculous to think that a boy my age has to worry and stress over every medical test

Every MRI

So FYI

I’m tired.

Tired of having to explain

Explain to every child, parent, uncle, aunt.

Why all the other kids taunt

Why I am not the same

Why I sit on the side lines while others play the game

Why I wear 3 joint braces on a good day

And the other kids don’t know what to say when I tell them it cant be fixed

Or having to explain to teachers that I can’t write because of my wrist

Because it’s shooting pain and it hurts to move

But there’s no injury so it’s hard to prove

But this isn’t a scam

I wish it was.

Because you don’t have to live in my skin

Maybe they’ll catch a glimpse now and then when they see me hunched over in pain

A grimace on my face

The pain shooting up my sides

And before they can ask if I’m alright

I say I’m okay

Its just not a good day

And I know it may not be easy to understand

But all I want you to do is get an A for effort.

And even if I don’t have your support

I would at least like your understanding

Or your tolerance

Because it isn’t always easy being the kid on the sideline.

I am strong.

But I’m just a kid trying to see where I belong.

So if you’d work with me that’d be great

But if you wont then move out of the way

Because I refuse to stop for anyone

Or any disease or disability that stands in my way

And so I wake up

With the mentality that I could shape up

That I can over come anything life throws

Because what will happen tomorrow

I could never know

But no disease will ever stop my life

From being my life.

Kids get arthritis too

And maybe its time for you to open your eyes and see

Its not a scam

Its not a joke

Its not a game

But I wish it was.’”

This poem really opened my eyes toward how difficult it can be to navigate a society that often forgets about invisible diseases.