
The Jail Tree by Michele Bledsoe
Excruciating headache
since 2:00 am
curled up
hand clamped over my eye
to keep it from
popping out of my skull
beneath the unyielding pressure.
It went on and on
for hours and hours
coming in terrible waves..
When relief came
I was bursting with gratitude..
how wonderful it is
when pain stops.
So I ran to my easel
and painted and painted
with such great joy..
The headache did not return..
banished like a demon
in the light of God’s gift.