by Sonya Sample
The White Coats say you have five years —
eat right, lose weight, less stress
Can the White Coats see that I lost 40 lbs. – no praise for that.
Move over, make way on the conveyor belt.
The White Coats herd you on to the conveyor belt –
chop this, stuck that, swallow this
Can the White Coats see that I am in pain – no sympathy for that.
Can I jump off the conveyor belt?
The White Coats said, there are no guarantees —
pain, fear, narcotics
Can the White Coats see that I am in shock – no empathy for that.
Can I jump off the conveyor belt?
The White Coats use medieval tortures –
radiation burns, bones acing, hair falling
Can the White Coat see the lump under my arm – oh, we can cut that.
Can I jump off the conveyor belt?
The White Coats have tunnel vision –
deaf, determined, unyielding
Can the White Coat hear that I am asking for alternatives – indifference to that.
Can I jump off the conveyor belt?
The White Coats demand additional therapy –
numbness, swelling, side effects
Can the White Coats see that my life has come to a halt – disinterest in that.
Can I jump off the conveyor belt?
Even if you live, your life will never be the same –
quantity vs quality
epiphany!
Life is a conveyor belt; we simply ride it until the end.