Part II of Kidney Clinic - Dr Pande's hypothesis on allergies / Poem: Goldenrod

Dr Pande noticed that an inordinate amount of Americans suffer from allergies. He wondered why.

In India, he said, people do not have allergies.

He posited an 'exposure theory' in our brief couple of minutes together while he checked my heart (still tickin) and felt my ankles for swelling (demure, dainty, darling ankles).

In India, he said people don't ride around in air-conditioned cars or live in air-conditioned homes.

They are plein air all the time. Exposed to the elements. And thus they develop an immunity-by-osmosis to allergens - from trees, flowers, plants, weeds, you name it - and do not develop our allergies.

You is smart, I thot. 'You should write this up in an article.'

I didn't wanna embarrass him by saying he could be another Atul Gawande.

And, in 2006, when I was hanging around w/ my Indian friend, Mr Zachariah, we went strolling at Pennypack Park and I wrote this poem:

TO EVERY SEASON THERE COMES GOLDENROD

Much maligned beauty

your dusty fingers so like our own

pointing southward

where birds vanish

as does the sun

Accompany us, Goldenrod,

down the aisle

into the emptiness

of winter,

shine on

one last feast for the honeybee

and myself

my color-craving eyes

Once we thought you mean

thought it was you

who caused the twitch and sneeze,

but no, it was Ragweed who raged

like nettles in our nostrils

Fair nature

a lass to whom

all must bend,

to whom

all must show their fair form

then droop,

and pass,

Now, Goldenrod,

it’s your time to shine

across meadows deep

to remind us summer’s spent

to remind us soon we’ll be alone

with the sparrows

and the hidden voice of the wren

calling from unseen places.