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Tubercle Bacillus

Posted by Anthony on Monday, May 31, 2010 – 1:19 pm      
Filed under Poetry

Recently my friend Melanie successfully defended her PhD thesis in London. It was to do with medical geography, specifically regarding Tuberculosis. In celebration, I wrote her this sonnet…

Bringer of death, Tubercle Bacillus -

Oft latent, but when not severely rough;

A one half chance to reach life’s terminus

your lot, unless you are extremely tough.

Known as “Consumption” once, disease malign

Appearing to “consume” one from inside

Named by Schönlein, eighteen thirty nine,

“Tuberculosis” – those years, many died.

Blood tinged sputum, fever, sweats and chills,

weight loss, deathly pallor, coughing mess -

These your symptoms, proof of all your ills.

Confirmed by x-ray, or a Mantoux test.

A subject dark, quite full of gloom not glee,

Unless you are new Doctor, Melanie!

I don’t consider myself to be much of a poetry person, but I quite enjoyed putting this together so I may try and do it again. Who knows?

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6 Comments

  1. The big dude says:
    Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 4:09 am

    Delighted to see that you are back where you belong. The sonnet is excellent- such a cheerful introduction to your new found talent. Shakespeare watch out. May I confess a slight sense of unease? I see the format allows the reader choose the style of presentation of the blog. Is this not an abdication of your responsibility, indicating a disturbing lack of aesthetic nerve that can only serve the rampant forces of consumerism?

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  2. Anthony says:
    Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 11:29 am

    I prefer to see it as trumpeting the triumph of content over style. But I’m just experimenting – I may settle on something.

    Any preference?

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  3. The big dude says:
    Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 4:14 am

    Your previous blog set the industry standard, avoiding as it did the ‘off-the shelf’ look. No doubt advances have been made and a new industry standard is required. You should not leave it to amateurs to decide how your blog should look. To do so is as bad as allowing them choose your accent. Surely you do not want to run the risk of addressing the world in the blog equivalent of the much controverted Irish accent in the recently released Grand Theft Horsey?

    Reply to this comment
    • Anthony says:
      Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm

      I spent a lot of time on the design of the site the last time I engaged with it. A lot of time! I don’t think I’m quite ready to dive back into it. Maybe I’ll rediscover the interest at some point, but for now just pick the least offensive option and live with it!

      I campaigned for over a year to have that character recast with someone who at least sounded like they might have heard a real Irish person speak at some point, but when your bosses are Brits it’s a hard sell!

      Reply to this comment
  4. Owen O'F says:
    Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    As I can say on facebook with just one lazy click, I like dis.

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