“Wounds that don't heal
Nerves that don't feel.
No food I can eat at ease
What a disease I have” -- Diabetes!
Specialists call me by another name like Tripathy
As I induce painless or painful nerves, Neuropathy
And also vandalise the vast vascular network, Vasculopathy
Before I damage the camera of the eye, Retinopathy.
It is not due to what you eat, katta or meeta,
But as your lifeboat wrecks on the Islets of Langerhans
Even though you feel secure with the insulin of Best & Banting
Alas! the ultimate cure is still wanting!
As all your diet fails, you put on tablet
Your therapist says 'take it' or order your 'stone tablet'
As the needle-less therapy still cannot prevent you becoming lean
You lean on needle therapy with insulin, from which you may not wean.
Makes me pee all day & night putting me at stand-at-ease
No more about-turn once I develop hypertensive disease
The 'Nephro' says “No more kidding with your kidney”
Beg, borrow or steal to live on with your kith or kin's kidney”.
As the moiety forms the callous cataract
With the society - you fail to interact
All the afflictions of the errant eye
If you don't care, may bid a permanent bye!
You ask your Queen of hearts for some more tart
“Risk not dear, No more of them” comes the reply so curt.
Even as your ego takes the beating with the hurt
Odd becomes the arrhythmic beating of your heart.
As you cannot 'rise to the occasion' and vex
The urge ushers you to the sentinels of specialist in sex!
Waxing and waning of the velocity of your life's Niagara
Calls on you to fall on the pellets of Viagra!
When all the faltering organs invite diabetic coma
Your soul plays dilly-dallying within your soma.
Even as you recollect all the deeds of your karma
There comes the 'appointed time' with Yamadharma.
Initiated by the ineptitude & apathy, failing to gain sympathy
You wander hither - thither from naturopathy to homeopathy
If all your pathys cannot be allayed even by Allopathy
You become their prey or pray Venkatachalapathy!
____________________
yours truly,
Dr.R.Ravindranath M.D.
Diabetes & Heart Care Clinic
5 comments
Good evening Doctor,
This is not a poem, but a genuine outpour of a typical diabetic. I appreciate the author's description of the disease, its complications and the Diabetic's feelings. I particularly like the way in which you put forth the suffering of the diabetic in such easy-to-grasp, humorous verse. It is humorous, but true words indeed.
Yours truly,
Abishek
Hello,
I am Janaki from Chennai. When i first read the poem, my heart was aching to see what could have been my own experiences as a diabetic. As i read the poem again i understood the poet's intentions to express the diabetic's dilemma.
Hi,
I have always wondered whether doctor's have a humane side. Can humor be so subtle, yet realistic? Line by line it was so fine. But i do not agree with the final line - the doctor suggesting the patient to pray to God as the final recourse. Is this the doctor's humility or divine faith ?
Good Evening,
Very good. I liked this "Sweet" Poem about the "Sweet" disease very much. Have you written any more such poems ? I am a college student, pursuing my B.A.(Lit) degree. Looking forward to reading more.
I am touched by your interest in my poetry. I am glad that a literature student is admiring my creations. As a matter of fact, I have already uploaded a booklet of some of my poems - "Healing by Verse". You can download it by following the link provided.
Do keep visiting this blog for more. Have a nice day.
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