All-Encompassing Grin Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Slight headache now is a vortex of discomfort in which I am
twisting and turning as pressure increases, all sense of res-
ponsibility lost, forced to visit a doctor for antibiotics to com-
bat infection or whatever is wreaking such havoc

Cannot watch the screen, no coherent sentence forms as I
read; all I know is strangulation and suffocation - existing in
such a concentration camp situation means I am wasting
the minutes of my life in existential pain

Altruism attempt came to naught, vampires rejected my offering;
72 hours before donating no medication may be taken; the pill I
took this morning disqualifies me thus I cannot realize my
philanthropic desire to be of service to my fellow men

Frontal brain lobes have closed down, reduced to the reptilian
brain stem which reacts with fight and flight to stimuli, shall see
the quack on Wednesday to tame rebellious brain cells that
refuse to fire even when serotonin is secreted

Complaints would mess up my evening at home, now I must
suppress these thoughts and lift my chin, nose in the air,
wearing an all-encompassing grin…

Monday 16 January 2012