JESUS WAS A WALKING PUBLIC OPTION
by Bryan Borland
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken
unless he’s failed to meet his deductible.
Jesus never required a co-pay
from those who came to
be cured of their diseases,
the great multitudes of lame, blind, mute,
who laid down at his feet,
and were healed
despite pre-existing condition,
yet it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a sick man to enter
a waiting room without insurance.
© Bryan Borland
Jesus heals a lot of people in the Bible. “Multitudes.” I’d say he was pretty much a walking public option.
Bryan, This is perfect! I want it on a t-shirt. (It’s still poetry on a t-shirt, right?) -j
We’ve got to make a shirt! Where my Fashion Gays at?
Plenty of meat for a political junkie here, without every losing your trademark poetic elegance. Loved it. Now I’ll go back to mumbling curses at your home state senator Blanche Lincoln for voting against the public option in the Finance Committee. Arkansas is a fairly conservative state, I know, but PO is popular, there as around the country. Wonder if she’ll support a filibuster if and when a bill comes to the floor?
Oh, well. I’m trailing off topic. But lovely poem.
Senator Blanche Lincoln inspired this poem. Now I’ll have to campaign against her. Maybe an independent will run – though, in Arkansas, those are as rare as a town without a Wal-Mart.
One can only hope. At least, I hope someone will mount a primary challenge against her. She’d probably survive (and – I say with regret – hopefully go on to win next November against her Republican challenger), but then at least you’d have the chance to vote against her once (provided you’re a registered Dem, of course).
Independent, Baby. I can pick my primary.
Even though I’m a partisan by nature (if I had the right to vote in American elections, I’d be straight-ballot Democrat) I still suppose the self-described socialist, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, would be the senator closest to representing my views. I’m not sure how useful such a comparison is, however, considering how very different our electoral systems and political cultures. In US terms, I believe in high taxes, high government spending, single-payer health care, strong unions, multilateralism and whatever else a leftist could conceivably support.
Bravo Bryan! Been so missing that voice!!
Thanks Annmarie! Glad to be back and posting!
Brilliant, all your many and considerable skills aimed right at the heart of the target. The religeous right, right correct, you are a superstar, Bryan and that is a brilliant poem that all your American friends should be spamming across the bloggosphere.
I’ve long aspired to be spammed across the blogosphere, Mr. Squires. Thank you for your vote of confidence.
EXCELLENT~ Simply excellent. Have a great night.
Glad you enjoyed it, Michelle.
Excellent Bryan, excellent. Government founded on belief in a man who never existed, telling poor people they can go away and die, “but we love a guy who never existed, so if we let you die we’ll still be saved.”
I know it’s going off at a tangent but if you’re interested:
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197#
Thanks Paul. Very interesting link. It’s always the end of the world, isn’t it?
Believe half and disbelieve half of what you see, read and hear in this world and you won’t go far wrong Bryan. Oh my god, I sound like an old man. lol (Wait, I AM an old man.
Hi Bryan,
hmm
MMMHMM.
Sic’em Bryan.
No public option = no public protection…
Good on you.
Sometimes I use my powers for good.
Was so moved by the poetry that I feature you and your work on my blog tonight. I also added you to my blogroll. Keep up the good work as a blogger. You do us all proud.
Gregory
a.k.a. dekerivers
Thanks Gregory! I’m honored!
You know I love a little rebel rousing, and this one is a perfect start to my day!
Bryan for Breakfast. Maybe I should rename the site?
It sounds catchy. Save it for the next book!
I’m linking this on my Facebook.
I support your linkage, Mr. Sharp.
It’s so aggravating when people actually make this argument in an otherwise constructive debate. Why do you need to get medical insurance when you have Jesus? I always want to respond by pushing said people down the stairs…
Let’s hope those people that you push down the stairs have insurance!!
WWJD – What would Joseph do?
Well done Bryan. Something worth saying and then done so well through poetry? Bonus!
Thanks Mama J.
I said once:
In Sunday school my children learn that giving birth is a miracle.
A child is born uninsured in the United States every 41 seconds-that’s more than 2,100 children every day.
(InsurancenewsNet Magazine, Pg. 15 Vol. 103 No. 6, July 11-1, 2008)[2]
Every 41 seconds,
the institution bills a mother
for delivering a miracle.
For the next 25 years
the institution prints paper bills
“In God We Trust” and every
mother bleeds again and again,
the long hours of hard labor
to pay for her miracle.
Now I know I was not alone (vocing it)…
“every/mother bleeds again and again,/the long hours of hard labor/to pay for her miracle.”
Beautiful Ana! Thank you so much for sharing!
Interesting social commentary.
Thanks for the comment, V!
Jesus man, that is cool, as cool as jesucrist super star was.
Thanks for the intersting reading
go on writting man, that you do a good job with that.
Mariana, if you lived here, I would take you out for wine and philosophical discussion.
I love this poem Bryan, and meant to comment on it earlier when first published. A powerful, powerful piece – that says what needed and needs to be said.
-Darren
a beauty of strong words.
the gentle way you delivered your punch….
love it.
i love it. It is perfect. Knife ‘em in the cross
[...] independent. We’ve circled back to Arkansas, and the wonk in me wants to know why he wrote Jesus Was A Walking Public Option after his home state Senator, Blanche Lincoln (D), voted against that key progressive provision [...]
[...] independent. We’ve circled back to Arkansas, and the wonk in me wants to know why he wrote Jesus Was A Walking Public Option after his home state Senator, Blanche Lincoln (D), voted against that key progressive provision [...]
love that poem! gave me goosebumps!