‘21.09.2023 Dr Kazan’ by Yaz Nin

21.09.2023 Dr Kazan

We were suspended between
mother’s flat earth
father’s science
 
You were the anomaly the church accepted
on Sundays 
the mosque however
insisted I fast on Thursdays
 
I have found
as my body deteriorates
I am carved in positions of prayer 
frozen from the supermarket to the bus stop  
 
We sit here now
both of us
waiting room, Royal Free
 
How long since we last saw each other?
 
We can date back
via the graffiti on the old block
none of us live there now
 
Enfield did you say?
 
We ponder if the doctors understand
arthritis, I mean it  is the
gods calling us back
 
Forcing us
They ain’t even asking permission
They just striking down
reminding
 
It was always theirs innit   bones and flesh
            We only get the tags
 
Pisses me of though
I was one of the bodies
Kung fu fighting in the house party on block five
only a few years ago    with everybody




Yaz Nin is a UK based poet and playwright. Her poetry has been featured in several publications including Oxford poetry, 14magazine and Propel (online). Her documentary exploring health inequalities will be broadcast later in the year.