ON PAIN

It pains me to see the pain of the world, flashing before my eyes
It pains me to see that we have to inflict pain, and receive pain in return
It pains me to know that pain is insufferable, and yet is so utterly inevitable
It pains me to know what pain is like, and what pain can do
It pains me to know that I cannot do a damn thing about pain
It pains me that I have to accept life as it is, and live it
It pains me to know how you are oblivious to pain
It pains me to know that you don't feel my pain
It pains me to know that pain, for all that it hurts,
It is pain that tells you that something is wrong,
It is pain that shows you that you're on the wrong track, and, ultimately,
It is pain that we know; pain is all that we know, and pain that is our healing salve