🌟 “The body as deserted burning witness as ghost as primeval leper that attempts to lessen its own ruin by telepathic power beyond its state as catastrophic cretin in judgement of itself as toneless mirage being factor by phoneme by nerveless adventure as powerless stride that corroded its own apparition.” – Will Alexander, “Powerless Self-Judgement”
In the world of poetry, few voices resonate with the raw power and profound insight of Will Alexander. His poem, “Powerless Self-Judgement,” presents the body as a witness, a ghost, a being that strives to lessen its own existence. This imagery, while stark, can be seen as a metaphor for the act of blood donation.
The Body as a Burning Witness
💉 When we donate blood, our bodies become witnesses to an act of selfless giving. We sit in the donation chair, watch the needle pierce our skin, and observe as a part of us is taken away to save another. Our bodies bear witness to this act, just as Alexander’s body in his poem bears witness to its own existence. The body, in its deserted burning state, is a testament to the transformative power of blood donation.
The Ghostly Act of Giving
👻 The act of blood donation can also be seen as a ghostly act. Our blood, once it leaves our bodies, takes on a life of its own. It travels to hospitals and clinics, where it is used to save lives, to bring people back from the brink of death. In this way, our blood becomes a ghost of us, a part of us that continues to exist and make a difference in the world even after it has left our bodies.
Lessening Our Own Existence
🌍 Alexander’s poem speaks of the body attempting to lessen its own ruin, a powerful metaphor for the act of giving blood. When we donate blood, we are lessening a part of our physical existence, giving it away for the benefit of others. Yet, in doing so, we are not diminishing ourselves. Instead, we are enriching the world, contributing to the cycle of life, and affirming the interconnectedness of all beings.
The Power of Self-Judgement
🔮 The poem ends with the image of a “powerless stride that corroded its own apparition,” a potent symbol of self-judgement and transformation. This can be related to the act of blood donation, where we willingly part with a piece of ourselves, a stride that may seem powerless but is, in fact, a powerful act of self-judgement and transformation.
Conclusion
🌈 Blood donation, like poetry, is a powerful act of self-expression and self-judgement. It is a way for us to engage with the world, to make a difference, and to affirm our interconnectedness with all beings. So, let us take inspiration from Will Alexander’s “Powerless Self-Judgement,” and consider how we can use our bodies, our blood, to create a better world.
Please note that this is a creative interpretation of the poem and its connection to blood donation. For a more accurate understanding of the poem, I recommend reading it in its entirety.