The professional system by labeling tries to dehumanize
The patients, so that they don't have to see our human value.
Everything is clinicized.  Emotions are re-labeled "affect."
Grief is clinicized into "the grieving process"; and a list of stages
Of grief is graphed out like the guts of a gopher in a biology class.
Dying patients are herded into "end-of-life" groups.
"End of life" is just another stage, not a fearful leap in the dark,
Into the deepest unknown--that might require real compassion.
Even the dead body of yourself or your loved one,
Medically, is a "cadaver."  Not a former lighted temple of life,
That perhaps yearned for more years--maybe even to live forever.
From this whole dehumanizing system I seek to sever.
I don't feel I have "affect":
(Pronounced AFF-ekt.)
I have emotion:
I love and loathe and hope and fear and dream.
For my friend who died,
I'm not going through "the grieving process"--rather,
I have grief;  I'm grieving.
I cannot adequately be labeled an "end-of-life" man,
Just another member of an "end of life" group, treading water
Toward death--lovelessly categorized and psychologized.
I will not agree with this system of medicine and insurance,
That makes me a disposable unit:
Regimented and processed, annihilated of individual value.
Where the only worth is being a cash cow, with medical insurance.
I'm a human being with valued life, facing approaching death:
The awesome mystery of death.
God bless the few who knew that this is true,
And so treated me like a valued human being, with a person's due.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
When my spirit is gone, whether set free or snuffed,
The body that remains will NOT be a mere cadaver:
It will be the temple where my spirit dwelled,
All my life, until either erased or expelled--
The indwelling that made my spirit and my body a person:
A unique, unrepeatable individual: Michael.  Me.

==============================
Written by Michael LP, aka PoetWithCancer
aka (thanks to my dear friend, Luna Marie) Mr. Poet
Written on Tuesday, December 12, 2011  4:16 AM PST
41 degrees F.   Humidity: 86%     Forecast: fog
Copyright (C) 2011 by Michael LP.  All rights reserved
(Copyrighted for my estate)