Considerations

There was much more to exult in than the
end of the catastrophe; more
to consider than the commencement of his life.
Beyond his beginning, an unfortunate line of unequal longitude
running down from head to foot. 
If mathematicians were ever near
to calculate the meaning of his suffering, he
could only mock their absurd effort.
In them and their self-absorbed measurements he was heavy-hearted.
He knew that too
much cholesterol and sodium makes for bodily foul weather.
Beyond that, he’d not overly concern himself with this world.
Life situations had not gone quite as he had anticipated.
Incessantly droning mechanisms idly hummed like useless objects.
(They fail to cure anyone of a zombie-like state.
The best thing they can do is to
nail men to the earth’s floor for a little while.)
He had become
seizure-smitten and unavoidably decked with the lines of age.
He had become
chained to embarrassing intravenous lines and invasive catheters. 
(They are subtle, but brutal jailers.)
Beyond that, he went home, whether medical workers
liked it or not; home, like living
in ever readiness of the greater earth’s collapse.
At least it believes it is greater; greater
than the dying stars.
The stars know better,
but they allow the earth to kill itself anyway.
He ceases to exist on its plane.
Beyond that, only God can say for certain
what odd roads he will take.
There was and still is, much more
to consider than the commencement of his life.

Editor’s Note: Ben Plunkett died on April 27th, 2020 – one year ago today. He left behind a plethora of unpublished work that his family has been able to collect. (They found much of it on 3.5 inch floppy disks – classic Ben!) This is the first poem they have submitted to us for review and possible publication. We are more than happy to continue sharing Ben’s brilliant mind and heart with the world.

Ben Plunkett
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Ben Plunkett

Greetings from the booming metropolis that is Pleasant View, Tennessee. I am a man of constant spiritual highs and spiritual lows. I pray that I serve God at my highest even when I am lowest.

4 thoughts on “Considerations

  • April 27, 2021 at 12:53 pm
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    Ben wrote this in 2004 after a long time spent in hospitals. It probably “fits” even better with his life and death one year ago after another stint in hospitals and facilities. He is forging ahead on some “odd roads” now, ahead of us. There’s so much that I love in this poem!

    Reply
  • April 27, 2021 at 1:15 pm
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    I love this so so much. I miss him.

    Reply
  • April 27, 2021 at 2:10 pm
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    That is so “Ben”! I appreciate the family sharing these poems and writings of Ben with us.

    Reply
  • April 27, 2021 at 3:53 pm
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    My brother(Ben), such a unique individual! I miss his humor, friendship and his mere presence. Thank you guys for honoring him so well!

    Reply

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