What Hurts More?

Is it an unanticipated kick of a toe into a hard place

or an unfortunate encounter between a funny bone and a frame?

Perhaps a too-hot substance overwhelming the tongue or

a sharp object finding rest skin-deep.

If you ask me what hurts most, I think I’d tell

you that, for as many physical ailments that occur,

for as many sharp stressor signals shot

between point of impact and brain

there is no pain more devastating

than the pain sourced 

from within.