Concerto in Medical Minor

The beep is distinct on the cardiogram,
The doctors shake their heads,
And the family members secretly rejoice;
A beggar with a bowl is outside.

It is a concert and people are cheering,
The man’s breathing grows louder,
The steady background rhythm of a cardiogram zooms in
And a beggar with his bowl is outside.

It is a film show and the man
He writhes his body in pain and agony,
The doctors shake their heads;
The audience applaud the fascinating acting,
The beggar with his bowl is outside.

It is a research station where rabbits experiment on people,
The tiger jumps
And his leap is recorded on the Cartesian graph;
It is a breakthrough for science,
A white shroud is spread over the man
And the beggar with his bowl is outside.

It is evening and the beggars bowl is empty….
People collect around wearing white,
Their heart and body like the beggars bowl.

The people all parade past the cardiogram
And pay their last respects,
The beggar with his bowl is still outside.