Doe A Doer

By Paramjit Bakhshi

John Doe had a heart attack

What a setback

It was for him

He had fought and won

Against all odds

To all he seemed

The favourite of the Gods.

On his shoulders

He carted away

All the boulders

That life put

In his way,

Every day.

Still at night

He barely slept.

He had a big heart

So everyone said

And everyone cannot be wrong

Or perhaps they can.

Many a time it happens

Oftener than we think

That which we hold dear

Often gives way

And so with him

His large heart

Sputtered,

Murmured,

Missed many a beat.

He gasped for air.

And all his relatives

Huddled and muttered

Called an ambulance in.

Soon he was sedated

And the doctor opened up his heart

I doubt if John Doe approved

Because in his life

He had opened it

So seldom himself.

The surgeon used all

His tools

And examined every crevice

Every artery

Poked at all the valves

Found nothing

Even under such bright lights

And sewed it shut

Debating whether he should advise

A pacemaker, a stent

Like others he too was bent

And cared about his income

His trade.

What he missed and so

Did everyone around

Who did sorround

John Doe

His friend or foe.

That somewhere invisible within

Lay some crushed dreams

Some desires unfulfilled

Some love

Given, but unreceieved

This no doctor or x-ray

Scan or eyes could see

Which no clinic, hospital

Or nursing home

Could diagnose, far less cure

With certainty..

We appear to be made up.

Of bone muscle, tissue,

Blood and sinew.

But the truth is

That we actually are

Just love, desire,,

And spirit

And these need

Attention too.

By Paramjit Bakhshi