constructing poetry

Type One Diabetes: Taming the Dragon

my dragon entered my life
not in billowing flame and winged dances
but sneakily,
oozing beyond my defenses
like a shadow
until all I knew was him.

and he settled,
spreading his wings
breathing acid into my veins
until they turned sweet
and my breath grew short
and I ached so much.

the hospital, and the IVs
and the pads
counting my body’s motions
which burned my skin off
underneath them—even that new reality
was relief.

some dragons never go away.
he changed me
creating a new version
of myself
I hardly knew. I was thirty-one
when the dragon came,

but I can’t remember a time
when my body was my own—
when I didn’t have to count every bite
that entered my mouth—
when I didn’t spend my days
obsessing over blood.

but I found a way to.
embrace my dragon,
learning his rhythms
and my new body.
I live still.
and so, I triumph.

every finger prick, every insulin syringe
is cathartic—me, taking the saddle
and feeling my dragon fly.

line count: 39

Prompt ▼

Prompt for: Feb 16 (Fyn)
Subject or Theme: Overcoming Dragons -a dragon you've overcome, defeated, triumphed over!
Word(s) to Include: triumph, catharsis, create, beyond (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): trust, pain, fear, abuse, hurt (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters:6 stanzas, at least 6 lines per stanza; final stanza of 3 lines. rhyming or not. Title MUST include the word 'dragon.'
This poem may end up being beyond an 18+ rating. It is okay as long as the 'intro' rating stays at 18 or below.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.