White Coats

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.