June 25, 2001

To a Young Woman after her Car Accident

I mourn for you

How is it to be in your 20's

And face life disfigured?

I try to understand

You may have been like most of us

Who blindly hope an accident will not happen

Or at least will happen to someone else

Not to us, today, now, this minute

But many were expecting it, even counting on it

The ambulance driver, the emergency room physician, the hospital

And in time, your lawyer, plastic surgeon, psychological counselor

You will increase employment, increase the gross national product

If you are one of the many who are medically uninsured

You may have a problem

We live in a country where services are available

Only to those who can afford them

If you are insured

It is probably through a managed care company

In that case you will become overhead

Money spent on your care detracting from their profits

You were the unlucky one

The world will march on

No one is talking about decreasing the speed limit

Much less revamp a callous transportation system

All is well except you

Your life, your body, your face, your soul

Your time on this earth