I have a patient
whom I don't know how to heal
He comes to me every other week
Complaining of his ills
I place a bandage on his wound
gently and with care
He thanks me, thanks Allah
And swiftly disappears
Monday night I hear a ring
The ringing startles me
I see my patient standing there
Pained and all bloody
'The pain,' he says
'Began again, stronger than before
It's getting worse, always,
With a wretched, blazing sore'
The pain I heal again
With all the help from God
I rest again, my patient does
We both lock eyes and nod
'It will get better' I tell myself
Or else our hope's in vain
Three weeks pass
And guess who I see again?
My patient, weak, dying,
Trembling from the pain
I sigh, I pray, I ask for help
From Allah once more
But what do I want?
What should I ask Him for?
Do I ask to take this poor being
From his misery,
Through death?
Or continue life being as he be?
Was this meant to be?
Or are these signs?
If so,
What are they telling me?
As I told you at the start
I don't know what to do
My patient is a pain in the neck
But a source of comfort too
He's a part of me. I want to help
But how? I want to know
I ask Allah, every other week
Should he stay or go?
InnAllaha maa saabireen
