The Diagnosis

When the world crashed in
we were already running—
that’s how these things always are.

The Thing 
that stopped us
was so large in scope
it threatened to consume 
the entire landscape.

Monstrous.  
Heavy.  
Impassable.  
Impossible.

Our world screamed fire,
we blinked back ash.
Our throats raged ragged 
from swallowing hollowing grief.

But the slowing, the stopping,
and then the simply keep-on-going
kept us grounded.

The Thing,
still there, 
loomed large, bleak, stark.

But we learned.  We leaned
into.  Adjusted our view.

And we saw we were not alone—
saw how many lights
shone for us in our pharaonic dark.


© Jennifer Wagner

This poem was inspired by Mark Crutchfield’s picture prompt.

Two years ago in September, a close loved one of mine began treatment for a serious health issue.  It has been an up-and-down journey which has been helped immensely by others who have encouraged us by sharing their own stories with us, have supported us in numerous ways, not the least of which has been prayer and a simple checking in to ask how we are doing, not out of their own curiosity, but from their own care and desire to help.  I would not have been able to do these last two years without them.  If you or a loved one is facing consuming health obstacles, know you are not alone.  I’m lighting a candle for you.🌹

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” James 1:17a