New Poetry by Doug Holder

Sciatica

Suddenly at 67

an alternating current

swept my leg with pain

perhaps a prelude

to a walking stick

a twisted cane.

Am I in a new

'walk' of life?

Maybe

a limping

gimp

in a dirty black overcoat

that dogs bark at

or children break from play

and run away...

A grim totem of shooting pain

on the winding road

that leads, perhaps

to a performance

of taps.

- © Doug Holder 2022

Doug Holder is the co-president of the New England Poetry Club. He resides in Somerville, MA.