Malarial
Fever
Shivering
Temperature rising
Headaches
Hypotension
Jaundice
Two drops of blood spread on the microscope
Stained and examined
Detect the
Falciparum parasite carrying Anopheles mosquito
Confirm a
Malignant malaria affecting the brain
And nervous system
The resistant parasite is in the blood
Symptoms appear, disappear, come and go in phases
No known anti-malarial products
No quinine, doxycycline, mefloquine
Is tolerated
Will combat
The parasite that daily demands I write
posted by Heather Blakey @ 4:13 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Oh Heather: Is the muse so truly malignant? Why do we miss her when she lies dormant and refuses to speak? A demanding presence but where would we all be without this ailment? You make the whole affair so terrifyingly real. Fran
Indeed. A WONDERFUL extended metaphor. Sadly, I suppose, one must learn be a good deal more careful about mosquitos and extended metaphors. There do seem to be several strains of the disease loose out there, though, of course, it all comes to the same thing in the end.
It is a very good poem - the stark medical facts held up side by side with the emotional make for a strong, dynamic poem.
Many thanks for such warm feedback. I love to flit like the parakeets, to play with metaphors. This one has been lurking for a while and I have found myself saying 'ah you have caught malaria’ when someone is infected with a habit of mine.
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