Fiser, Karen : Pointing to the Place of the Pain

Literature Annotations

Genre	Poem
Keywords	Arthritis, Chronic Illness/Chronic Disease, Pain, Patient Experience, Suffering
Summary	The poet considers pain as a place she inhabits, from which she could (hope to) escape, " . . . returned magically to life . . . ." But it is inescapable, "like your softest skin . . . a room no one else can come into . . . . " Finally, it is "only feeling" that defines this place, a place of silence, suffering, and separateness.
Commentary	The poet is disabled with painful osteoarthritis. In this poem she explores pain as a state of being. A number of other poems in this collection reflect on her experience. Across the Border (see this database) emphasizes the sense of exile and The Short Song of What Befalls (see this database) considers the role of chance and accident in bringing about misfortune.
Source	Words Like Fate and Pain
Publisher	Zoland
Edition	1992
Place Published	Cambridge, Mass.
Annotated by	Aull, Felice
Date of Entry	02/28/95
Last Revised	01/14/10