I can't find anywhere quiet to lie down

A poem about chronic joint pain

I can't find anywhere quiet
to lie down
to take the pressure
off

just this spiteful seat

all life and heat must have drained
down straight lines into the concrete
base of this city bench as the cement
bonded with water and set

so I put my hoodie up
and walk out of this
hard jungle of smog
and spit

letting my phone and watch
fall to the ground
along the way

walking until I see green again

walking until I can lie like the ape I am
on the warm trunk of a tree
curves of bark embracing tenderly
the arches of my aching back

by James Allen

Chimpanzee sitting on rocks by Tom Van Dyck, via pexels, licensed under pexels free-to-use license