Studying for the board exam

- First a litany of symptoms:
describing the countless ways in which people may come to experience pain and suffering

- Then a listing of treatments/procedures:
complications of which may lead to additional hardship

- And finally a collection of medications:
although with unpleasant side effects, these may be able to alleviate symptoms, and provide long term benefits- if only these were affordable

(repeat until thoroughly disillusioned)

quakes and wars

suffering
needless
and so many times preventable

How many more sick beds and refugee camps and trenches?

the rain pounding down
I close my eyes
I can see row upon row of bodies crushed and burnt, bloodied and feverish

one day
no more limbs lost
no more wounds to dress
no more diseased organs and debilitating illnesses
one day
heaven