The Stem Cell

Alone with encoded memories
of millions of years,
the stem cell sits
in its frosty glass house.

Will it heal,
will it grow
Will it die,
will it know?

There is a genetic double standard
that is hard to understand
Engineered chickens and cows
versus the stem cell of man.

It makes fools of the devout
and fools the scientific.
The fight is religious.
Its not about clones.

Imagine a Hindu at a slaughter house,
or a stem cell scientist at Bob Jones.
The contrasts of beliefs are endless
even within our homes.

The stem cell sleeps while some ask
Is it Kosher?
Is it clean?
Is it a murderer
of human beings?

The little stem cell sleeps
while single issue politics
rage on and on with no room
for common sense or compromise.

It is merely alive to live
while we ponder if it
takes,
wastes
or saves a life.


Families may pray at dinner.
Food corp. may pray for profits.
But no one prays
for the poor stem cell.

Unless you have a loved one
who is paralyzed
on dialysis
or frozen by Parkinsons.


DH