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You Say That You Know Me

Missing image
~by Gregg Rowe~

I hear you say that you know me;
While I inform you  -- you don’t:
It’s been forty-four years, you see
I’ve lived with this temple that’s broke.
I’m tired to listen to false gods - -
Telling me what is for my best;
Man-made meds -- my body’s at odds;
Screams within to give it some rest.

Keep on prescribing me these meds
‘Fore I’m a number, I’m your star-
Your belief in eternity --
When laid in your hospital bed,
Remember my road, my life’s scars-
My journey of mortality.

The pain that I had, the tears that I cried--
The pills that I ate, the blood that you took--
Prolonged my death in keeping me alive;
By cheating destiny -- am I the crook?

You say that you know me but you do not --
It’s forty-four years, that I now have fought;
To have internal pain isn’t life’s sin

And when I am ready and I will surely win--
When my pain subsides then my new life will begin.


Author notes

This is for some of those doctor's out there who refuse to listen to their patients who have more experience in knowing what their bodies can tolerate before side effects happen with the drugs that are prescribed today.  Just in a cynical mood tonight.

This is an experimental poem using the following:

Stanza 1:  an octave in tetrameter  
(eight lines of poetry with eight syllables per line)

Stanza 2:  a sestet in tetrameter  
(six lines of poetry with eight syllables per line)

Stanza 3:  a quatrain in pentameter
(four lines of poetry with ten syllables per line)

Stanza 4:  a tercet in pentameter  
(three lines of poetry with ten syllables per line; 2 lines rhyme to connect to the other stanzas)

Stanza 5:  a couplet in hexameter  
(two lines of poetry with twelve syllables per line)

Written January 24th, 2005

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Comments

1 - 23 of 23

  • Empathy-eyes
    January 29, 2005
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    Excellent

    I've come to view your wonderful work again, and have been rewarded yet again by this masterpiece. Your words were meaningful and emotional, portraying such raw pain from ordeals. I'm sorry for all that you have been through. It is said that only ourselves know us for who we are.

    Keep the hope within your heart...
    Much love to you- Kate


  • Diamond
    January 25, 2005
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    Strength Is Determination

    No one know you more than you know yourself, not the doctors or nurses or the government or FDA. You know what your body is capable of handling. Drugs are only poisons that keep you depent and keep you coming back for more. They fix one problem and destroys something else inside of you. Your poem shows a lot of strength and determination. I encourage you to keep on fighting and don't give up hope. There are alternative medicines and homeopathic remedies that are available to you. Ervin Magic Johnson himself takes homeopathic medicine and he's doing pretty well. Take care and your poem was wonderful. I'm not familiar with all the styles but I know a good poem when I read one. Avril


  • DrkPoet
    January 25, 2005
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    Very nicely done Gregg. Such beautiful and touching words come out of the pain that you've suffered. Keep penning.


  • DragonessTawnya
    January 25, 2005
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    Hello, it's been awhile since I read one of your poems. This one is just as wonderful as I remember your work to be.


  • lordoftherings gold member
    January 25, 2005
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    Hugh: What I was trying with this unusual meter poem was show the rhytmetic choas of an over-anxiety of a patient who had just reached his/her ropes end. When you talk with someone who is just upset or anxious and who carries on in their conversation with such speed and then slowness and then speed again. I'm not sure if I pulled that kind of expression off in this poem, but it sure was fun trying as well as letting off some of my own steam in the meantime. Thanks so much again, for your thoughtful insights into my poetry. Gregg
    Edited on Jan 25, 6:17 because ''.


  • hugh wyles silver member
    January 24, 2005
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    Dear Gregg,
    The interesting format of this piece could have distracted me from the message were what you are saying any less important.
    We who have sufferred with you through the postponements and final performance of your heart operation and then through the months of anxiety over the post-operative treatment, the infection and the other setbacks that almost unendingly assailed you can share your anger and frustration with your doctors. We can imagine and understand your inner and your physical pain but we cannot share it. Only you can really know what it was and is like. You express this very well.
    It is interesting to base your lines purely on syllable numbers regardless of accents or 'feet'. Thus you get a mixture of iambic, dactyllic or anapaestic meters which does not make for an easy flow from one line to the next. In other words there is none of the rhythmic sense which a regular meter (of whatever choice) gives. But your message as always is clear and gets across. Applause and best regards, Hugh.

    Edited on Jan 24, 11:50 p.m. because ''.


  • Jacki D
    January 24, 2005
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    Gregg, I also wanted to say how you impress me in how you use formats in your poetry. Me, I just write it down and never think of the form. You put so much thought,and emotion all into your pieces. And your openess just adds to it's superb quality. Your work makes mine seem very trivial compared to your excellent talent. Jacki...I wish I could applaud you again.
    Edited on Jan 24, 10:29 p.m. because ''.

  • Jacki D
    January 24, 2005
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    powerful

    Bravo for you!! I feel this poem in each and every line will be felt by anybody who have had to deal w/the medical comm.for any long period of time. I learned along time ago that creditials on a wall doesn't make a person a decent human being.I've had one doctor actually tell me he was the one who spent all those yrs in Med school, not me.I wonder how he felt a week later when I was laying in a hospital bed w/pneumonia that other doctors couldn't assure me that I was going to make it thru. I don't know your personal religious beliefs and they are really not an issue for me. But I think MD's should realize they are not self made but God made...that being my personal take on things.
    Anyway I think your poem stands strong as an advocate for all the ppl who being herded thru Doctor's offices like cattle to a slaughter.I know that critiquing is not one of my strong points ,so please forgive me when I seem to just give my 2 cents worth. But I've told you alot of times how brave and strong I think you are. Perhaps one day I will be able to meet you at a book signing because I feel one day that you will be doing just that and I can finally shake the hand of somebody I respect and admire very much. double Jacki
    Edited on Jan 24, 10:18 p.m. because ''.

  • listen
    January 24, 2005
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    wow.a lot of complex thought and planning went into this with all your heart as well.no,doctors don't always listen as they should.and that's sad.you just have to keep fighting for your rights and listen to your body.

    stay well,
    stacie


  • SerenityNChains gold member
    January 24, 2005
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    Gregg.....
    I adore this poem and will be bookmarking it. I know we have similar, yet different experiences with this, but the end is all the same. I just went through some nasty complications with my chemo because of a doctor that would not hear me. I understand these words all too well. Thank you for shedding some light on this topic. Bless your heart, your soul, and life. You are such a fantastic writer my friend.

    Blessed be

    ~~Serenity~~
    Billie Jean


  • LadyUnique silver member
    January 24, 2005
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    "When my pain subsides then my new life will begin."

    this line made me think of something my husband is always saying. he is very religious so therefore believes the best life is the hereafter. he says that's when the pain will end and life will truly begin. i believe this is true too.
    we know our own bodies better than any doctor. i'm 48 and in all that time have found one doctor who listens. she's worth a goldmine. too many drs see too many patients and they are all a blur. we all become lumped together and i'm not a lump. i have to fight to be heard. trying to summon that energy when you are sick only makes things worse. i'm not a guinea pig either
    you've brought up an excellent point and used your own experiences to underline it.
    i wish some doctors would read it.
    God bless...


  • jenelda silver member
    January 24, 2005
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    Dear Gregg,
    You have suffered a lot, not just by the medication, I know you and you have fought hard to retain even a semblance of life.
    you are an inspiration to all of us, keep fighting Gregg, you are winning-jennifer

  • Drakus840
    January 24, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    The structure fit for every stanza but the first. In the first it seemed.. unnatural tone or something. I may just be unfamiliar with your style, but with some lines my mind was begging me to alter them:
    I hear you say that you know me;
    While I inform you -- you don’t:
    It’s been forty-four years, you see
    I’ve lived with this temple that’s |broke.| (really wanted to say broken, kind of an awkward phrase)
    I’m tired to listen to false gods - - (I really liked this line actually, probably my favorite in the piece)
    Telling me |what is for my best;| (again with it being awkward.. sort of stretched to fit the structure)
    Man-made meds -- my body’s at odds;
    Screams within to give it some rest.

    Overall I liked it, having been to doctors who have made mistakes that have almost killed me. (Such as perscribing me pain killers and sending me home with a brown recluse bite neither lanced nor really treated to... had to go to the emergency room when I got blood poisoning. Almost lost my arm)

  • CaPrIcOrNiAn
    January 24, 2005
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    This is a well written poem, I hate it how you hear stuff about doctors thinking they know best for the patient and not listening to a thing they have to say. I'm sure that if doctors paid more attention fewer lives would end sooner than the should. And to all those doctors out there: LISTEN TO SICK PEOPLE, THEY KNOW THEMSELVES BETTER THAN YOU DO!
    Aimee


  • -BlackKnight- gold member
    January 24, 2005
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    Bah, doctors suck at times, eh?

  • wbluerose02
    January 24, 2005
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    Great Job

    Well I think it was great write,and I liked it alot very well written. I give this Two Thumbs Up,Keep up the awesome writing. Thank you for sharing this with my family and I. I hope to read more of your amazing writes.


  • ficklefeather
    January 24, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    LOL! Fun read. I believe that was a fun write for you, too. Most interesting. Hey, great notations! Perfect! LOL. I'll read it again!


  • Miss Faerie Greeters member
    January 24, 2005
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    I am so sorry that you have to suffer through this with the doctors believing that they know who you are and what you can tolerate. Noone knows you better then you know yourself. They should realise this.
    Take care darlin, hope that you are ok.


  • angelica silver member
    January 24, 2005
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    Gregg, I know from the medication I take how much the side effects can be worst than the cure, I have ended up in Hospital over them. Why they can't make medication without the side effects is beyond me. I guess there's money in making them. I know how much you have suffered my Friend~Love~Joan


  • Triste
    January 24, 2005
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    I'm glad you put the explanation in your Author's Comments, because I was totally clueless as to why a poem would be so (apparently) scattered; but upon reading it again, I definitely like it. This poem seems to envelop a lot of things that I, at least, can see interpreted in many ways. I won't ramble on, but still, a very well thought out write here. Keep it up.
    -Renae.

  • Sephielya J. Maxwell
    January 24, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    It seems kind of hopeless, I think. I can relate to the meds, man-made feel-betters. Isn't it sad that now we actually need to take medication to get along?? It's gotten that bad! And living under those pretenses, it's like a lie really. God made man, prozac made us friends indeed.
    ~Sephy J


  • SomnusLupus
    January 24, 2005
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    not really feeling it, can't say why.

    just isn't ringing a bell, chord, or any other musical term.


  • briannaXuhoh
    January 24, 2005
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    This was a real kickass poem. It was creative and the rhyme was great. It flowed really well and the picture added some emphasis on the mood too. Great job! Keep up the good work! <3 Bre

1 - 23 of 23