Mortality
Why there’s nothing
so majestic, so stupendous and strong
As
the human body. So
perfected in its intricacies
that one simple sneeze can
completely corrupt its complexities.
Where the cells have more
freedom than the people.
They decide upon mutinous mutations
beyond all control.
Our design is our demise.
They sit complacently
eyes glazed and glaring over
scarlet nose and sallow skin,
united only in conviction that their illness is
the worst.
They knock. With their
filthy fingers, and prepare their
monologue.
Pathetic sickly whining
act as if they’re dying.
How the callous and cold-hearted
fall to their knees
vying
for my sympathy.
Oh, don’t they know,
the wrong pill could kill?
Would seem such an innocent
mistake;
not been sleeping – another ache
nothing more to contemplate.
Young so stupid – old still foolish
“I won’t eat I’m gonna drink I’m gonna sniff
Some powdered random debris
test my body till
the bitter end.”
And every
Time, they’re in the clear
But not
Me, I’m
terminal.
It’s
C-A-N-C-E-R
Ca- ca- can..... can-cer...
Every simple empty day
I have to say
it, to someone, so why can’t I
say it, even whisper
it, to myself?
I’m their God; they want – demand- a
miracle cure,
I can fix them but
not their real problem
inside.
But oh sweet, merciful God, who
scorns me, mocks me,
laughs at me, laughs,
gives me the power
tingling
in my fingertips, over
life and death yet
not
my own.
Notes: This is a poem about the tragic irony of a doctor who is suffering from an untreatable illness, who struggles as he watches people making choices that negatively affect their health, yet continue to be unfailingly healthy. Essentially, this is a comment upon the nature of our mortality, and how no-one is exempt from illness or death.
I used language relating disease, and tried to focus on the imagery in some parts, so as to convey the gravity of the situation; ‘sallow skin.’ Also, I found the use of alliteration to be useful to create a sense of power behind the words, almost making it sound as though the doctor narrating the poem were shouting or spitting the words at the audience. Equally, at the start of the poem, I created some rhymes, which made the piece sound more light-hearted, which was a way of showing the doctor attempting to conceal his true feelings and fears, yet, later on as the poem progresses, the jovial rhymes no longer occur, and the doctor cannot help but reveal how he actually feels.
I chose to break up the word ‘cancer’ to demonstrate the immense difficulty the doctor has with admitting his own illness to himself, something which a lot of people struggle with.
To signify the doctor’s sheer rage and mania, we have repetitions of words, for example, ‘laughs’ when he is describing God, and this coupled with the sarcastic use of ‘merciful’ really helps to convey the sheer sense of despair and lack of control that the character feels, which I think is very relatable.
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