I have come slightly late to the party, but the 21st of March was World Poetry Day.

Poetry can be a great tool for many people to express themselves, and as a lover of the written word I can see why. Not only that, poetry can help you release your creativity, send powerful messages that you may otherwise find difficult to say, and allow you to enter a zone of mindfulness where you focus your attention on one thing. All of which are great aids for people with chronic illness.

So, with this in mind I thought I would try my hand at a spot of poetry myself to celebrate (a rather belated) World Poetry Day.

I am going to put it out there straight away – I am no poet and I admire anyone who makes this seem easy because it really wasn’t. Even so I hope you enjoy xx

My poem is: To Those Who Knew Me Before.

You say I am not ill

Although I know I am

You say it’s in my head

Like it’s all one big scam

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You are free, You can live

You don’t have to worry

I am forever changed

With this beast inside my body

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Things have changed between us

no-one is to blame

We are on different paths

Nothing stays the same

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You don’t get to judge me

Because you do not understand

This is chronic illness

This was never in my plan

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Life is for me now

At a slower pace

With some days only managing

To just about wash my face

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I am me, but I am not

A contradiction it may seem

I wish I could explain it

I wish it was a dream

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I hope one day it changes

I hope one day I’m free

But even if it does

The scars of chronic illness will forever impact me