HIDDEN BLUE’S
Poetry by Tammy C. Smith
A Spiritual And Inspirational Poem from All-Creatures.org

Good Morning, Dr. Joy,
I have an awful hurt!
Deep within my chest. No sir,
no injury at work.

Yes, it started late last week
and will not go away.
No, aspirin is not helping,
so what else can I take?

Yes, it is very painful.
Yes, when I breathe in deep.
Yes, Dr. Joy, it’s hard
at night to fall asleep.

Fever? No, I don’t think so.
No, no temperature.
Yes, often times I do feel
in my chest a pressure.

Goodness! You should have warned me!
Your stethoscope is cold!!
I was not prepared for that.
Take a deep breath and hold?

Dr. Joy?  What is it?
What is it that you hear?
Your face looks so troubled now,
as in my eyes you peer.

Yes, I do feel very weak.
Yes, more so at nighttime.
What is wrong with me Dr?
My blood tests came back fine.

My heartbeat is healthy: strong.
Well, that’s very good news.
Yes, sometimes I do feel down.
YOU THINK IT’S JUST THE BLUE’S?!

Dr. Joy, there’s no way!
Come on!  Surely you jest?
How in the world could the “blue’s”
put these pains in my chest?

Of course, I read the paper
and watch the news each day.
Yes, I get very upset.
Mostly animals I’d say.

Just to learn of their abuse,
to hear of their neglect.
You know they’re slaughtered daily.
It makes me so upset!

Don’t read and don’t watch the news?
Just look the other way?
Try to think of other things?
My pain will go away?

But what will that solve, Dr.?
To simply turn my head?
My chest pain is getting worse!
Avoid the news, you said?

I can’t just ignore the truth.
It’s not how I was raised.
My Daddy did not teach me
to look the other way!!

I don’t wish to hear these things;
the abuse and neglect.
By these heartless men who seem
to never have regret.

I don’t want to learn these things,
but Dr., they’re still there.
Just by choosing not to look
won’t make my heart not care.

Dr. Joy, tell me why
my chest pain and the world,
you think have a connection.
A TENDER-HEARTED GIRL?!!

What? A tender-hearted girl?
That’s your diagnosis?
Not the flu, or an ulcer?
I just don’t believe this!!!

WHAT? NO PRESCRIPTION?!! NOTHING?
There’s nothing you can do?
Tender hearts cannot be helped.
A simple case of “blue’s”!

I’ll have to live with this pain,
the “blue’s” is what you said.
Stop reading the newspaper,
no TV before bed.

My heart is just to tender
to learn of certain things?
My “blue’s” will go away soon,
learn to be accepting?!

Just accept the world? Dr.,
I’m trying to change the world.
With my choices, prayers.  Yes, me:
a tender-hearted girl!

I will NEVER just accept
this world as it is.  No way.
Dr., would you please visit
all-creatures.org today?

It’s my favorite website,
I find it comforting.
Here, I’ll write that down for you.
You’ll find it surprising!

Dr., thank you for your time.
You have a nice day too.
One hundred and ten dollars?!
Fine, insurance; cross blue.

Yes, I’m sure.  Please try again.
My blue card is valid!
Wallet, head and heart: each held
the color blue though hid.

I left with no prescription;
just shades of blue to hide.
Where in my wallet and heart
apparently resides.

Shades of blue will follow me
until the world finds peace:
I’ll ask God to ease my heart
ache down upon my knees.

With my card and heart and soul
all wearing the same hue,
I’ll work to change the world with
my hidden shades of blue.

Though my tender heart is blue
I cannot help but think:
true compassion is not blue.
Well, maybe just in ink.

Just a tender hearted girl
with hidden shades of blue:
heart and soul and plastic card,
also my ink pen too.

Give me strength, Dear Lord, I pray:
how can I change the world?
With my pen and hidden blues,
a tender-hearted girl?

Write? Just keep writing? Just write!
HIS prescription is written.
Help me, Lord, find my many
shades of blue still hidden.

Give me strength to make choices
that will please You everyday.
Grant me words of compassion
to share along the way.

Bless me with Your presence Lord;
and the color blue within
my wallet, head, heart and soul
but especially my ink pen.