The Life of a Zebra

When you hear the word ‘zebra’

Most people think about the animal in Africa

About how it runs through the plains

Galloping freely

Its glorious stripes

When I hear the word ‘zebra’

I think about what I have

And what it has taken from me

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think about the pain I feel

On a daily basis

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think about the medications I take

The ones that have worked

And the ones that have failed

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think about the fatigue

And dizziness I feel daily

When I hear ‘zebra’

I hear hoofbeats

But not the hoofbeats you would think

I hear the hoofbeats of warriors

Warriors of a war

In our own bodies

A war

That cannot be resolved

A war that we will fight

Until the end of our days

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think of how rare we are

No two stripes are the same

No two warriors are the same

We fight our battles

With all our heart

Never giving up hope

That one day

We will find a cure

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think of the disease I have

A disease that affects so many

Yet is not well known

When I hear ‘zebra’

I think of warriors

Because

We are all

Zebra warriors

Fighting for a cure