The Inconvenience of Pain

There was Max this morning,
hoofing it through the ravine,
ski pole in either hand, looking 
as elfish as ever, in his lightweight 
cotton bright red jacket, open necked 
white shirt collar beneath, blue eyes
twinkling his usual effusive greeting.
No, he's heard nothing yet about
scheduling surgery for his knee
replacements, still on the waiting list
and waiting. What else is new is that
he's exploring the installation
of mechanical lifts to assist with
the care of his wheelchair-bound
wife whose immobility has advanced
along with the severity of her medical
condition beyond a point where
scheduling surgical joint replacement
is feasible. Not for Max to surrender 
to the inconvenience of pain.