Poem in response to Good Health and Well-being
March 2018
By Karen Wu

CC Image Curtesy of Rod Waddington
A little mosquito, landing on a arm
Killed easily
Kills easily
I grimace, squash it
And grimace more at the blood
(just one bite)
And then there’s the fever
Shaking like a weather vane in a storm
Chills in the middle of summer
Tired despite having slept enough
Weak as a newborn doe
Curled up on the bed
(mother help I don’t feel well)
Time passes
Skin is yellowed
Food doesn’t stay in
Body weakens
Organs fail
(save me)
(every symptom piling up)
(just another statistic)
(I’m going to die, aren’t I)
Malaria, humanity knows how to defeat you, but I can’t
A little child, that’s all I am
Let it stop hurting
And please, Death, wait a little longer
Really, I’m just a little child
I want to see the world
And I’m scared
(Please...)