To See Or Not To See

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE by JOHN M. ARRIBAS I’ve an important story that I need to share today There are several endings, you’ll have the final say It’s about a young man born without his sight Living every moment in a world that’s void of light He gets angry when subjected to dollops of sympathy Claims he assimilates more than folks that can see he said: I’ve honed all my senses to an acute optimal degree I can hear nestlings chirping from a mile away tree I can taste all the spices hidden in Sister May’s stew Tips of my fingers read much faster, than most do No matter the obstacles, I’ve always come through I’m now torn with a challenge not sure what to do A new experimental procedure not proven, as yet May restore my sight or leave me with lasting regret I want so badly to see a snowflake, and a full moon An elephant, a rainbow, a butterfly in a cocoon Lightning, a wave, a baby, a mountain top scene Niagara Falls, pyramids, a camel, anything green Over the years I’ve made up images in my mind From touch and sound all my senses combined I so want to compare those images when, if I see How close are my guesses as to what they will be I’ve comported myself with images I implanted Not seeing the world most folks take for granted I’ll not search for my family time has long past When they chose to abandon me my fate was cast Parental aspirations and a blind boy didn’t mix They left me at St. Mary’s steps, when I was six There is a lesson I learned painfully profound I seek no one that doesn’t want to be found To see (2) A radical procedure that might give me sight Initially filled me with joyous unbridled delight But as I savored the results of my jubilation I came to a tortuous and frightening realization If I regain sight my stay here will be measured Losing of St. Mary’s where I’ve been treasured The wars in my head between hopes and fears Not knowing an answer I’m driven to tears Were I to see where would I go, what can I do? How will I function? I haven’t a clue I’ve had no structured education, I can’t read Those little simple things, which I will need Set adrift, on my own, in the world of sight Portends with echoes of sleepless nights Here at the home I’m the head of the crew I’m nearly forty now too late to begin anew I could nix the procedure pass up the chance Remain here at St. Mary, dwell in the manse Submit to the procedure if it fails, no stress If successful I could feign ongoing blindness Slowly paced I would allow sight to improve Giving me time to learn, if forced to move A golden opportunity can easily turn to lead The tugging and yoyoing going on in my head To see or not to see the answer is lost No matter the outcome there will be a cost Pulled in many directions not sure what to do Put yourself in my place, what would you do?