Nithin Charlly
School of Medicine and Public Health
2021
Poem
Coughing through the night
As if he were a dog barking
Lips pursed, clubbed nails, cachexic
His pack of cigarettes lit nearby
Providing just enough warmth
From the cool evening
To make this nightly routine worth it
I asked them
Is Uncle Rohan okay?
They replied, “Of course, he’s always been like that.”
Yelling through the night
As if she were a siren being tested
Agitated, racing thoughts, aggressive
A force to be reckoned with
Or rather a voice to be heard
Is she crying out for help?
I asked them
Is Aunt Teja okay?
They replied, “Of course, she’s always been like that.”
Drinking through the night
As if he had polydipsia
Hennessey, Black Label, Crown Royal
His three closest friends
His breath precipitated his arrival
Then came the violence
This is not okay
I asked them
Is Uncle Veer okay?
They replied, “Of course, he’s always been like that.”
All this education, just to be ignored
I’m here to help
Poking fun at my accent
I’m the one that got away
Who are you to tell us what to do?
Respect your elders
America has corrupted you
They ask me, “Are you okay?”
I reply, “Of course, I’ve always been like this.”