Andrea Dietrich Poet Rondeau Redouble

I'Ve Known Life's Struggles - Edited

I’ve known life’s struggles - (absent in my prime).
How splendiforous was life “in the day.”
Since my youth, life has been a painful climb.
I was clueless what next before me lay.

I hit my midlife, and with no delay,
pressing problems - like dirt - turned into grime.
Oh, how hard it is to scrape grime away.
I’ve known life’s struggles - (absent in my prime).

The trials of youth were worth but a dime
compared with the woes that would come my way.
To steal back youth should be the sweetest crime!
How splendiforous was life “in the day.”

First came the neck pain which to my dismay
made my 30’s anything but sublime.
Degenerative disc then came to stay.
Since my youth, life has been one painful climb.

Around the time I started writing rhyme,
horrendous shoulder pain I could not slay
except through surgery – an awful time!
I was clueless what next before me lay.

Cancer attacked! But there was more to pay.
A needless drug, post-cancer, was the slime 
whose rare effects keep plaguing me today.
I pray one day to hear sweet Heaven's chime!
I’ve known life’s struggles.

March 7, 2021
for 'Life's Struggles- any form - Updated-' Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France

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Phyllis Babcock March 17, 2021 at 6:08 PM Congratulations on your win Andrea. Know of all your struggles as this poem shows. Hugs for the life struggles. love phyl

Alexis Y. March 11, 2021 at 8:36 AM Hi Andrea, This is a great entry for contest. From reading it, I see it's a true account of the struggles in your. In the life struggles will come. They either break us or make us. In your case, altough it is tough, you prowl through it and keep going one day at a time. I see your strength shining through. Congratulations on a well-deserved win. Excellent job. Kudos to sharing about your struggles. I know it wasn't easy- Alexis

Constance La France March 10, 2021 at 9:11 PM Andrea, congratulations on your win in my Life's Struggle contest with this excellent Rondeau Redouble (Modified) poem, so emotional, it really touched my heart, well done _Constance

Anne-Lise Andresen March 10, 2021 at 1:10 AM - When struggling in life Andrea, you always have a choice - You can either dwell on it or let it get the best of you :) - Congratulations on your win :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Andrea Dietrich March 10, 2021 at 10:24 AM Thanks. Fortunately I have many interests to occupy myself with, but it's with me 24/7 so hard not to think of it!! I would not even write about it, but when a contest says "struggles" or "afflictions" it is basically the only real thing that comes to my mind.

Unseeking Seeker March 9, 2021 at 6:33 PM What a wonderful poem! Congrats on your top win, Andrea! Your writing is from the heart and fearless! God bless you. Andrea Dietrich March 10, 2021 at 10:26 AM Thanks, it's hard to always write from the heart but when get themes about our personal lives, it's easy to do!

Malabika Ray Choudhury March 9, 2021 at 5:10 PM Congratulations, My Friend, for your well-deserved win. Life is a struggle for most people, but for some, it's very tough. You are a winner, and you spread joy and kindness to others. Love ~ Mala Andrea Dietrich March 10, 2021 at 10:25 AM Thanks, Malabika. You are so sweet.

Caren Krutsinger March 9, 2021 at 9:55 AM Life's struggles seem to have just completely overwhelmed you and at such an early age. A sad read. You have prayers from Kansas my friend. Andrea Dietrich March 10, 2021 at 10:25 AM I appreciate that, Caren. One day I hope to find my solution!!

Anitha Jayasankar March 7, 2021 at 9:27 PM Andrea, I can understand it all and feel your mind. Those struggles in your life, specially THAT needless drug, and your sufferings due to that... but as far as I have understood you, you are a STRONG person mentally who spreads 'positivity' wherever you go, and I hope, wish and pray that same nature of yours will continue to spread cheer in your life and others' forever. My best wishes to you in the contest.. Hugs ~ Ani Andrea Dietrich March 8, 2021 at 7:50 AM Thanks, Anitha. you know me well and you are a very special new friend for me. Love your poetry!

David Kavanagh March 7, 2021 at 2:31 PM Heya Andrea, I think your life struggles have made you into the top poet you are today, so many top artists in the past put their creativity down to various illnesses, some actually refused treatment in case it stymied their creativeness, you certainly haven’t had it easy, cheers David David Kavanagh March 8, 2021 at 1:09 PM I was hoping you would say that Andrea, why suffer just to be creative or famous, it’s not the same as no pain no gain, thank you for your honesty, Cheers David Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 7:12 PM That was a nice thing to say. I never really thought of my trials sparking my style! I know one thing. If someone would find a cure for Prolia's side effects on me, I would stop writing if that were a condition of my being normal again. I hate my condition that much!

Regina Mcintosh March 7, 2021 at 2:24 PM This is, indeed, brilliant... a sure winner. I hope you win top placement with this. I love it. ... God Bless you sweet lady. Love, Gina Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 7:14 PM thanks, Regina. I always seem to be rehashing my physical ailments when asked to write on struggles. I am fortunate that my other struggles have not been so drawn out. Emotional struggles are bad, but I detest chronic ones.

Edward Ibeh March 7, 2021 at 2:05 PM This is a brilliant, Andrea:-) It really resonated with me! GL in Constance's contest! Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 7:13 PM thanks, and I imgaine you must have some bad things too then. Sorry about that, Edward

Vijay Pandit March 7, 2021 at 12:56 PM Your poem is so perfectly executed (as all your poems are), Andrea...in this difficult form. Your words resonate for the pain is real and not going away. Win BIG with this superb write! Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 7:15 PM Thanks, Vijay. That is so nice of you.

Victor Buhagiar March 7, 2021 at 9:58 AM There are lucky people who suffer pain in their old age and die. You and I are not that fortunate. I always say they might a well hire me a room in hospital. I'm fed up coming and going. We just have to bear it. Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 10:06 AM Sorry about all you are going through too. It must be horrible. Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 10:04 AM It's so weird, Victor. I eat healthy (almost always) but most of my stuff has to do with BONES. My mom was nearly anorexic when she carried me and was living with a mentally ill man that probably caused a lot of stress in her body. I am glad I at least came out mentally stable. Or am I? haha

L Milton Hankins March 7, 2021 at 9:55 AM I surely could relate to this poem, Andrea. I hope you have found resources to help you overcome many of your lingering health struggles. Good work. I appreciated you sharing your personal trials. We are never alone, right? Andrea Dietrich March 7, 2021 at 10:06 AM Thank. None of us are alone although we must feel that way. Sorry for your own afflictions. My weird effects from Prolia are so rare that no doctor in my state can help me. It is the quest of my life to get myself normal again.