Anemic Angel
by Nisitha Sengottuvel, Hem/Onc MD/PhD Year 1
Manjula had just began
her fourth year of life,
When her Pa orphaned her
To be with his new wife.
She found shelter on the ground
and food on the street
but she began falling ill
and saw blood by her feet.
The childhood fairness
of her Nepali skin
vanished slowly
as yellowness set in.
Her heart sped up
as if in a race
paleness set in, color
gone from her face.
She grew tired and sleepy–
became all around weak.
Her eyes felt heavy,
pained even to take a peek.
All the while
rain poured down,
over this child,
and her home town.
Breathing became harder
as her body destroyed her blood.
Still the rain didn’t stop
and the streets began to flood.
Manjula’s organs
began losing air,
reminding us all
that life isn’t fair
After seven days,
when storms had cleared
What was left of Manjula
had disappeared.