Be

An assignment and a challenge.

A man lies in a hospital bed, drowsy at times, surely anxious, fearful, and agitated at others.  The only light in the room comes through the window from the weakened, late afternoon sun.  A feeling of coldness, the epitome of the impersonal, has settled over the room as dusk seems to have scurried inside to escape the outdoors.  There is only one bed in the room, situated in exactly the same place that it was before the other bed was pulled from its place and stored in the lounge at the end of the hall.  A gaping, empty space that resembles a small, eerie dance floor, occupies the area between the entrance to the room and the remaining bed against the far wall.  This is not meant to be a private room.  The unceremonious yanking of the unused bed, the only effort to create the illusion that only one patient is meant for this room, screams continuously what no one would dare to whisper—this man is utterly alone, one of the untouchables.  Everyone else doesn’t want anyone near this man for any longer than they have to be.  So he lies in the darkened, silent room, alone in the universe.  He is afraid.  He has more than one reason to be.

 

He is black.  He is middle-aged.  He is a habitual cocaine user.  This hospitalization is likely the longest that he has gone without his drug of choice for a long time.  His immune system is weakened, severely compromised.  He is a battered, broken man.  He is HIV+; some doctors have said he has already developed full-blown AIDS.  Who knows how he was infected.  Does it even really matter?  Does anyone have compassion for a cocaine addict?  Does he deserve whatever misfortune befalls him, no matter how atrocious it might be?  He has been dealt a death sentence.  Some self-righteous people who talk of God’s infinite capacity for forgiveness and love would undoubtedly agree that this man is being punished for his degenerate lifestyle.  He might, sadly, even believe this himself.  Does anyone deserve such a cruel fate?  Could this man’s plight be any bleaker, any more hopeless?  Sit still and contemplate this question.

 

Now consider this.  This man is a minority in his own country who has been pummeled by the too harsh consequences of a string of bad choices that were most likely made in an effort to obliterate the misery of his situation, his inability to adapt to society due to lack of preparation and care.  And the reason for this man’s hospital visit is not his HIV.  The man is also suffering from advanced cancer.  He is not an old man, barely into his fifties.  Where is justice for this man?  Who will come and alleviate his fears with just a bit of compassion?  He is a human being who is frightened.  Try and imagine yourself in his situation.  You couldn’t even begin to do so.  It seems all this man can do is try and make his peace and get his affairs in order, if he has any. 

 

Consider this man.  He is not alone.  His horrific story is being played out among addicts in every city in the country, in the whole world.  Learn from this.  Be a little bit more compassionate to everyone you meet every day.  Don’t place yourself above people who society would say are beneath you.  Learn that you, me, and everyone you know (and don’t know) are this man.  We all know fear of some kind.  We all understand terror, uncertainty, and suffering.  Do something everyday to make someone else’s life a little better.

 

This is your new job.  If you do it with the best of intentions, you cannot fail to do it well. 

-CV

Reviews

[Allie]

This is truly powerful. The tempo of the piece definitely helps to drive the point home. There is a lot of truth in your words and your meaning rings clear without bogging it down in details. Definitely moving, I look forward to reading more of your work :)

[iheart5]

Wow. That sure serves to put some things in perspective...

[Debbie_Philly]

OMG.... you have no idea how much you have touched me with this..... Im blown away. They way you wrote it as well. I have been in the hospital allot for health reason... I felt this way.... but this man... I have seen this man ...many times... and I do feel for him. My brother also died of a heroin overdose three years ago.... and I know the loneliness he felt. This poem has just brought allot to the for front for me.... Thank You for it !!!!!

[Nicole (Carpe Diem)]

What a great lesson you teach in this story... compassion and caring... not to judge a book by its cover ... to look beyond it and feel a little compassion for someone who needs it, deserving or not.

great piece of writing.

[Vincent]

Damn man.....This one hit home. I know many individuals in that position at this point and time. Even though short...this is a masterpiece for those who understand and witnessed. love your work and again..this one truely hit home. Thanks