Your life can be splendid

Your health is its bedrock

Many potential threats

lurk around the corner 

ready to attack your well-being

At birth without choice 

a set of genes assigned to you

some encode potential ailments 

many dictate your behaviors 

leading to diseases

In half-million-mile 

of your blood vessels 

any spot has the risk of being clogged 

Of the trillions of cells you own   

each one might go wrong 

and mutate into cancer

Many viruses and bacteria can invade you

Mosquitoes and all kinds of other culprits 

may bite you and spread their diseases 

You never know how much 

contaminated food, water 

and polluted air you have consumed

that has induced silent damage 

waiting to wreak havoc

Sometimes you do harm to your body

by depriving yourself of sleep 

engaging in reckless activities

overeating, overdrinking

overworking

 

Your unavoidable stress or anger

induces excessive release of adrenaline

raises your blood pressure

puts stress on your heart

and leaves scars 

Hot sun scorches the skin 

floods drown people 

lightning strikes

accidents, violences and wars

cause many disabilities and deaths

You are fortunate 

if you have not been affected 

Into later years

if you are not defeated by aging  

still enjoy life 

your health has passed

its share of challenges

Lucky you

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States