FIVE FACES OF MARTHA: award winner

FIVE FACES OF MARTHA


[Martha is dead. Five persons look at her face, each with a different perspective.]



DOCTOR:

I have done all I could do
To save you but, in fact,
On my first visit I knew,
That it was tough act.

You had a pretty advanced
State of malignancy.
Your lungs were full of shadows.
No cure I could fancy.



NURSE:

Lady, you were brave, I saw
No wrinkle on your face.
When I said you had cancer,
You had not a grimace.

You were sweet and nice to all,
I wish you had lived more.
I shall remember you for
Your vitality pure.



HUSBAND:

Go, Martha, up to heaven
And be with Him again.
You used to sing His praise when
You were in real pain.

Go and I will follow you,
I cannot live alone.
Our children are settled now.
There’s no one else at home.



INSURANCE AGENT:

Good riddance, old lady, you
Were a real granny.
You could cut down on coma,
And save us a penny.




LAWYER:

Let the husband approach me
For a malpractice suit.
I have no doubt I will prove
Negligence to the boot.

I’ll question the diagnosis
And even the treatment.
I’ll argue that dialysis
Could death, truly, prevent.


* Written in abcb 7-6-7-6 format.

* The poet is an MD turned an attorney.

* Malignancy is the medical term for cancer.

* Awarded third prize in the BEST OF THE BEST contest, 1058248, 11058248058248

M C Gupta
18 March 2005