Affliction

The affliction brought out the worst
in the boy; in the man.
He careened through life listless
borne upon the nagging pain.
The ruin wrought of those too near
scattered, ash-like, upon the wind.
He was blind to his disease;
blind to their suffering.
None could repair the damage,
nor even convey warning.
He knew not what he carried
for the pain eclipsed thought.