Am I Dying Or Already Dead Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

I happened to overhear,
Which, I realize now,
Should not have happened

I overhead
My treating doctor
Talking to his doctor friend
He was briefing my case to him
Probably, expecting his friend
To be of some professional help

From what all transpired
I came to know that
My days were just counted
Ten days at the maximum
I would survive with this
Life threatening
Cancer giant occupying me

The knowledge of the nearing death
Turned out to be more painful
Than all the pains
I suffered from my in-house cancer
Killing me each second that passes
And from all the lessons
I was exposed to all these years

I did not move for sometime
From where I overheard
This ultimate reality

I managed to reach my bed
And started making this note

I would request the world
Not to cry over this departing soul
I would request my dear ones
Not to shed tears over this senseless creature
I would request my friends and colleagues
Not to make a note of this event
It would be nice
If I am forgotten
Like a passing tree, or a lighting pole
Or, for that matter
Anything that goes out of sight
As you travel past in a train

I am afraid something is pervading me
I understand that to be an eternal pain
Occupying the entire body
Signaling the separation of body and soul

This pain I know will relieve me
Of all pains associated with me

I think continuing this note
Will be difficult, why, impossible any further
I finish this with the wonder
Am I dying or already dead