Ray

[hester_prynne]

Ray was truly a ray.
He sat down across from me,
at my caseworker table.
Endeared me
with his toothless smile.
He needs health insurance.

I lib wif my sister and
brother in-law he said.
Then he laughed and told me,
I speak in toothless.
Cracked me up.
He didn't look good.

I have high blood pressure
I feel dizzy like i'm drunk
but I ain't happy like I'd be
if I was.
I cain't work.
My sister pays for me, I hate that.

I wanted to take his hand.
Something about this man was Jesus.
His one tooth dazzled.
He needs health insurance.
Did I say that already?
I've got to find him some.

I call a woman I know
who is an insider of sorts.
I tell her about Ray,
beg her to pull some strings.
She sighs, says to send him in.
She warns me, this has to be the last one.

I look in my inbox
after Ray leaves.
There are twelve more folders.
Twelve more uninsured chronics,
who might very well die.
God Bless America

[Lightning Rod]

this is a terrific poetic narrative, tweets

takes you by the nose and leads you through

my heart goes out to ray, it could be me

keep fighting the good fight

toots

[Doreen Peri]

sad multiplied by thousands of Rays

you are doing a wonderful job

it can't be easy

........

i know you don't like hillary.. i know you hate her... but that was the one thing she had going for her, in my opinion... is that she was going to make sure every american had health insurance

obama's plan is different... his won't be mandatory

i would rather it were mandatory.... everybody should have health insurance

i might be one on someone's caseload some time soon...

[constantine]

when work inspires you to write poetry - especially poetry that isn't negative - then you're on to a good thing. couldn't happen to a nicer theda!

[Nazz]

Hes, this is heartbreaking, and your (our) opportunity so inspiring. It's all hard work, and it's all meaningful.

[mtmynd]

you're a good woman, theda... and you sure write righteously. i know.

[saw]

the rawest of truth, not a clever word......this poem theda, is what
print journalism should look like....someone, some reporter/newsman
telling the stories of the masses, the downtrodden, the accounts
of millions of lives that aren't important enough for the evening news or the morning paper.....which is not to say your poem isn't poetic,
it's poetry at it highest level, great images and dialogue move this one
to a special place.....enjoyed immensely........

[sweetwater]

lumiere