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Organ Systems

June 19, 2014
By ChrisJ PLATINUM, Rochester, New York
More by this author
ChrisJ PLATINUM, Rochester, New York
24 articles 15 photos 289 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.&rdquo;<br /> - Martin Luther King Jr.

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My heart feels like a cancerous lung—
flooded with tar and festering with abuse,
oozing the pain of rejection into my bloodstream.

My arms feel like broken legs—
torn muscles burning with lactic acid residue,
my sense of touch demolished.

My spine hangs like a falling tree—
branches of vertebrae rotting from pollution,
the pollution of my delicate organ systems.

My brain does not know how to think—
rather, it sits like a chicken’s egg,
an egg stepped on before hatching.

The blood, tissues, organs of my infant body
smoldering in the heat of day,
burnt to a crisp on the sidewalk of the sun.

Will I ever live?

© Melissa P., Oley, PA

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 5 comments.

Magistra said...
on Jul. 5 2014 at 8:53 am
Scientifically graphic images--so effective, since they are personal and painful, yet one cannot turn away. The ending made me flinch, which I think was the intent! Marvelous!
ChrisJ PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 7:09 pm
ChrisJ PLATINUM, Rochester, New York
24 articles 15 photos 289 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.&rdquo;<br /> - Martin Luther King Jr.

View profile
Thank you for your uplifting words. I'm glad you liked my poem!
HudaZav SILVER said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 12:27 pm
HudaZav SILVER, Toronto, Other
8 articles 6 photos 390 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Nothing is impossible; the word itself says &#039;I&#039;m possible&#039;!&quot; -Audrey Hepburn

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Why doesnt this piece have more comments? This poem is amazing, and I ompletely agree with McKay. You grasped my attention from the first line to the last. Well done!
ChrisJ PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 24 2014 at 3:30 pm
ChrisJ PLATINUM, Rochester, New York
24 articles 15 photos 289 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.&rdquo;<br /> - Martin Luther King Jr.

View profile
I truly appreciate the uplifting comment, Mckay. Thank you very much and I'm glad you like my work!
Mckay ELITE said...
on Jun. 24 2014 at 1:36 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

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My heart feel like a cancerous lung—This opening line grasps my entire attention, stirs my emotion, and shakes my dormant muse. The whole poem is a banquet of grostesque images and poignant emotion. I can't decide which stanza I loved most: they're all equally marvelous. Great to know you're still writing amazing poetry, my friend. Congratulations on the Editors' Choice for this piece; well deserved. 5/5