The Iron Lung

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The Iron Lung Haunting in the shadows from the Fifties' years turning up for unexpected shock, why does it recapture all my hidden fears, whether having known its ways or not? Panic pulsates deeply in the iron lung, phobia that swells from feet to neck. Man and machine working as a rhythmic one, encasing all but head to chasten death. Huge, steel, 800 pound, drum respirator, imagine a hundred crowded in a room. Many once depended on this life saver. Without the giant monster, they’d be doomed. The sight of it was used in cheap subversive ads by a world so vile that scared some little kid into receiving polio shots they had to have or face the suffocating fate that others did. Dark pictures live in furrows of my mind with the onset of no other phobic blow. The helpless sight of someone so confined may be the frightful truth that vexes so. 8/13/17

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Agnes Krampe

Date: 9/27/2017 5:58:00 PM

Congrats on your win, Janis.

Sandra Haight

Date: 9/27/2017 8:43:00 AM

Great imagery and information in your poem, Janis. I had forgotten about this fearful monster, but you brought it to life again. Congratulations on your fine podium placement in the contest. Hugs, Sandra

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/26/2017 11:17:00 PM

Janis, congrats on your win with this informative and emotional piece. Janice

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 9/26/2017 10:52:00 PM

Congratulations, Janis on your great win with a beautiful poem.

Constance La France

Date: 9/26/2017 4:33:00 PM

Janis, congratulations on your wonderful win, oh yes that would be so horrible to be put in an iron lung !!!

John Lawless

Date: 9/26/2017 4:00:00 PM

Congrats on your placement in the contest Janis. I well remember the ads and the shots.

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 8/24/2017 4:52:00 AM

Powerful imagery, Janis! Your pen capably expresses the fears of this claustrophobic environ. Frightfully beautiful poem. Those cocooned in the Iron Lung embrace, I pray they recover to good health. Miracles do happen everyday. Stellar quatrain poetry. Love and joy always.

Janis Medders Tobechi
Date: 8/25/2017 2:08:00 PM

There are only 7 people alive in the US still dependent on iron lungs for life. In the entire world there are 33 people still in iron lungs. Most of these people have had to use them since the epidemics of the 50s. Some have record years of 60 and 61 It is miraculous.