I have a pain. It is a fist clenching.
Only it is not a fist. It is my chest clenching.
Many parts of me reside in my chest.
Located right here, for instance, is my heart.
I’m not panicking which could be worse
But I’m not denying the fist in my chest.
I’ve had tests. Doctors have measured me
Walking and running and watching electrical lines
Like lie detectors. And pictures of echoes. All normal.
Rest Assured. So I rest. There it is again. Clenching.
I wonder how many dead people heard
Don’t Worry
Just before they stopped worrying
For good.
With Resistance 
Reblogged this on notquiteold and commented:
Once in a while, I have a weird and sometimes unwelcome compulsion to write poetry instead of silly stuff. So I recently added another blog, With Resistance, so I have someplace to throw those babies. Since this poem has a silly side too, I thought I would share it here as well.
I wonder too–and worry
I don’t want the doctor to be saying “oops” when I croak.
me either
wow! hope you are okay. great poem, but really hope all is well.
Thanks. I am actually pretty sure I’m fine. It’s one of those vicious circles – you have a pain so you get anxious, and then the anxiety makes a pain of its own.
I had this in grad. school. Not really fun, but as long as you’re aware, you can deal with it. (nice blog here…I’ve thought about a second one, too..but haven’t followed through yet. Well done)
i get those too sometimes… the docs at emergency always tell me my heart is ok but that i might have ‘chest arthritis’… supposed to be particular to women… where tension is kept in witheld breath and muscle fibres tear and cause arthritic knots after awhile… sort of like a charleyhorse but unlike legs, we have to keep using our lungs – so it hurts.
Another thing i saw when i was working in a chiropractor’s was the ‘nerve syndrome’ where a turned vertebrae affects the nerves feeding through it and wrapping around the body… so someone with a crick between their shoulders could end up having chest pain from the irritated nerve.
Doctors don’t usually clue in to these symptoms so i’m just tossing them in for you to consider. The good news is that they usually go away pretty fast.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Thanks… I’m going to look into these possibilities. I’m actually a very healthy person… except for those occasional little pangs…
I had a pretty bad run of anxiety attacks last fall just after I got a restraining order against my ex… I remember this feeling, of being “medically sound” but still… there is something physically wrong happening.
I think anxiety and stress cause real physical pain.
That was going to be my question to you: is anything in your job / life causing you anxiety.
I like the poem, Nancy. Thanks for sharing.
I’m not really an anxious person.. but now I’m worried that I’m worried and I don’t even know enough to worry about it.
I know. It’s a vicious circle. Hope you get to the bottom of this turn of events. 😉