Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Migraine

By Katinthecorner Thursday, March 12, 2009

Once apon a morning dreary, I woke up achy, weak and weary,

Reeling from the ER visit of night before.

While I struggled, wanting napping, Suddenly there came a stabbing

As if someone's sharp attacking, Gouging at my brain once more.

"A tension headache", I muttered, "Stabbing at my head once more. 

Only this and nothing more."

 

I can no longer remember when my head was all the better,

And my pain was just displeasure I felt once or hardly ever

Vaugley I look towards tomorrow, hoping for relief of sorrow,

That my life's no longer borrowed from the medicine chest door.

But again I felt the stabbing, somewhat stronger than before.

"Surely" said I "it is just the stress of a life that's all a mess,

So let me get back to what I'm doing and this pain I will ignore.

It's just a headache, nothing more."

 

Then I felt the pain grow stronger, each stab lasting even longer

"Head," said I, " I have no for time this today so I implore

I have work and school and errands, and I have to leave my door,

So ease the nausea and stop your stabbing, Or my triptans I'll be grabbing

And hope they work all the better then before.

Then suddenly it stopped.  Just an ice pick, nothing more.

 

My stomach started churning, and now the lights have started burning,

Then I felt the stabbing ever stronger than before.

"Surely," said I, "it's just a headache not a migraine,

I've avoided all my triggers and had one just the day before!

Then it stopped. A false alarm, and nothing more.

 

Like a wave upon the shore it crashed upon my head once more,

Only this time not retreating, my heart began its faster beating    

This head pain won't be fleeting, and I let loose the medicine chest door.

Vision blurring , head now aching, and this blister pack just is not breaking!

My meds I must be taking to stop the migraine now once more

Tell me when this all will end! Quothe the Migraine "Nevermore."

 

My nerves are all inflamed and I'm cursing migraine's name

Waiting for my pain to leave from the triptan I took before

On the toilet I lay my head, waiting with the normal dread,

For further symptoms from my head, each one worse than the one before.

Sorrow now kicks in, as I am sitting here again, hoping soon this all will end,

Quothe the migraine, "Never more."

 

"Let this pill now work its magic, I pray results will not be tragic

I am sick and tired of fighting with my head for one day more

Leave no symptoms in my head, let me be able to leave my bed

I cannot take another pill, now I have just taken number four!

Take this pain out of my head and get back to my life before!

Quothe the Migraine, "Nevermore"

 

And the migraine, never breaking, head still aching, head still aching,

And the pounding's getting stronger with every second more.

I've taken all my meds, and I still can't leave my bed,

For the pain that's in my head has me laid out on the floor.

But still I'm clinging , hoping some day there will be a cure.

4/16/09 1:21am
This is one of my early favorites (I've been reviewing them regularly as they come in). I've always had a weakness for turning old poems into something different and Edgar's life seemed to reflect someone with migraines. I bet he likes this one.
4/16/09 2:25am
During his life, Poe complained of prolonged headaches, blurred vision, spasms, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and extreme fatigue. He also had a facial asymmetry, where one side of his face appeared dragged down, suggestive of chemical sensitivity, Donnay said. From PersonalMD.com
4/16/09 1:36pm

Wow, I had no idea Poe (probably) suffered migraines.  Of course those symptoms could all have been caused by his opium addiction too.

 

An interesting coincidence...

 

=)

4/16/09 11:54pm

From the small research I did last night it seems that his supposed opium addiction is at least questionable.  No question about the alcoholism though.

4/18/09 8:37am

Dear Katinthecorner,

According to the latest "Praeter-Hollish Poem Judging and Migraine Rating Scale" (of which I am the sole owner and judge)...  You were my 3rd favorite poem this year.  Whether you place or not know that your "Raven Redo" was very good and well thought out as far as I'm concerned.  Thought you might like to know you impressed someone out here. 

By Katinthecorner— Last Modified: 09/03/10, First Published: 03/12/09