Fixed

I used to be afraid of pain
and quickly shied away
from cases where I stood to gain
if only I could say

“That really didn’t hurt so much.”
But I refused to drop my crutch.

These days, I’m not averse to ache
despite an ailing form—
the sacrifices left to make
won’t scar beyond the norm,

in fact they tend to keep me strong
enough to fiercely limp along.