One foot by one foot
by six foot deep
the chemical waste
of a money pit
broke her parents
on the cost of health
one foot wide
one foot long
and six foot deep
A hundred nights of over time
a thousand tears of hope
reassurance spilled by garbage
with so many pretentious prognostics
gave her this
the cure within reach
and side effects may outweigh
all the potential benefits
One foot wide
and six feet deep
one foot long
in the chemical pit
broke her parents
for the price of health
for two years old
and meet the doctors bill
A medical inconsistency
and it’s death by radiology
life by sickness
incurable
curable
a promissory note
an I.O.U
glued to her tombstone
One foot by one foot
and six foot deep
and death by arrogance
death by a pin prick
and death in the end
by the ego
of so many doctors
Picture this: you make a call
To straighten out a bill.
Of course, what you expect’s a battle
Being fought uphill.
Instead, you get dear Caroline
Who listens and who hears,
Which you have not experienced
In many, many years.
She takes your information down
And keeps you on the line.
You aren’t put on hold
Or disconnected by design.
She does a little research
‘Cause she really wants to solve
What the problem is, no matter who
Or what it does involve.
She tracks down radiology
And gets them on the phone –
(A 3-way call!) explaining
In a calm and measured tone.
I’m blown away to learn that such
A person still exists.
For those of you whose skepticism
Naturally persists…
I understand your reasons
For the playing field is bleak
But with luck you may find Caroline,
An agent quite unique!
They shouldn’t need to make caskets only four feet long
Pediatricians shouldn’t have to specialize in oncology
Scarves shouldn’t be worn by ten year old girls
To protect their bald heads as caused by radiology
Little arms shouldn’t bare puncture marks from IV needles
Fifth grade homework shouldn’t be delivered to hospital beds
Last rites shouldn’t be given before her confirmation dress is worn
Parents shouldn’t be praying that they were the ones dying instead
She is too innocent to fear her impending death
She is too young to regret having never fallen in love
Watching your child suffer through this torment and pain
It is easy to lose faith in a merciful God up above
Get well cards shouldn’t have Hello Kitty on front
A last wish shouldn’t be for a Happy Meal
When they remove her lifeless body from this hospital room
They shouldn’t need to prepare it for another sick boy or girl
They shouldn’t need to make caskets only four feet long
Easily carried by just two men
Funeral parlors shouldn’t be crowded with the grade school staff
And a roomful of crying children
For the "One Silver Tear Free Poetry Contest". Written and posted on 7/23/2012.
If I could take away the pain
I see in people’s lives
I wish I had the power
Like turning on the lights
Sadness makes it self-known
I see it all around me, it groans
Diseases all abound
Killings
Bodies on the ground
Abuse
No shoes
Poverty
Loss of property
Pain from a beating
Cheating
Drinking
Then meetings
Eating
In access
Sadness
Then you’re depressed
Racism
Narcissi
Catabolism
Child ***********
Cancer
Then a visit to radiology
Bills
Pills
Alcohol
High cholesterol
It goes on and on
Like the verses to a bad song
How long
Do we watch this madness?
Filling empty eyes
Of sadness
Oh I wish I could take it all away
At least that’s the message
I’m trying to convey
I saw you this morning in the waiting
room, not yet invisible, and later
sitting in the blue wrap-around frock
the technician asks you to unwrap.
Since last Wednesday the flesh
seems ashen, and light as a box
to be shipped away at your expense.
Only the white of the x-ray is so heavy,
you can’t put it down.
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