MERRICK

Merrick 

Turn of a turn of a century 

when midways were common 

and oddities hid behind canvas 

there was a Joseph 

who became John 

whose genetic merit 

brought him from 

sideshow 

to hospital stage 

The man 

thought dumb 

though elephant 

was not an animal 

was caged in body 

but not mind 

He accepted us 

in spite of our freakish cruelty 

we were of him 

His life was short 

his bones stay on 

to mark his being 

and tell his tale 

for even with a broken body 

his love for life was sound 

October 19, 2018

OctPoWriMo2018 Day 19

Joseph Merrick