Unsettled discomfort
a gut that burns
Found when seeking a measure of life’s progress
when questions force doubt into pain
Pain is heard greater than measure
pain is felt greater than measure
But the one becomes mistaken as the other
discomfort is discomfort
pain measures only pain
and not the distance come
and not the progress made
and not the deep anchored intent
Pain is heard greater than measure
pain is felt greater than measure
But the measure of the steps
is in the stepping itself
and so with pain greater than measure
the next step is taken
InitialDrafts 
For an early read and suggestions, thanks to S. In the end, the edits were not used. I felt it made for a different voice and somewhat different meaning. It may in fact have been better. S. has written before and I hope they will do so again. It is a voice that should be heard. Thank you S.