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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?

Copyright © John Arribas | Year Posted 2016

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