The Alchemic Sorrow:

A poem by a drunkard's liver

In the depths of the body's sanctuary, within the realm of metabolism, there lies an organ burdened with a heavy load, weighed down by the tribulations of existence. I, the liver, lament in a symphony of toil and strife, a resounding chorus of cells in disarray, as life's bitter elixir courses through my weary veins.

Oh, how the tides have turned against me, as society dances on the precarious precipice of excess! The elation of spirits, once a fleeting respite from life's somber tapestry, now ensnares the very essence of my being. As the flames of anguish scorch my delicate tissues, I bear witness to the ravages of an era dictated by the sirens of consumption.

Alas, the relentless onslaught of rising costs, the merciless winds of economic struggle, have driven humanity to seek solace in the embrace of intoxication. In a desperate quest to numb the aching wounds inflicted by a world grown cold and indifferent, the elixir flows freely, seeping through the pores of society's frayed fabric. And so, my burden grows, for I am the guardian of balance, the sentinel of purification.

But in the depths of this suffering, I find solace in wisdom's embrace, for it is through hardship that true enlightenment blossoms. I, the overworked liver, am but a reflection of humanity's collective struggle. I bear witness to the interconnectedness of life, for my suffering mirrors the anguish that pervades the hearts of men and women.

Let this be a reminder, a call to introspection amidst the cacophony of chaos. The true cost of living lies not in the material possessions we yearn to possess, nor the ephemeral pleasures that momentarily satiate our thirst for joy. It resides within the harmony of our existence, the balance we forge between our desires and our responsibilities.

Seek not refuge in the numbing embrace of vice, for it is but a temporary salve that exacerbates the wounds of an aching soul. Embrace instead the beauty of simplicity, the genuine connections that enrich our lives, the pursuit of purpose and self-discovery.

For it is in the crucible of adversity that we are forged into beings of resilience and compassion. Let us emerge from the depths of despair, like a phoenix from the ashes, reborn in wisdom's embrace. And may the overworked liver find respite and become a testament to the triumph of the human spirit, forever teaching us the delicate dance of moderation and harmony.

By Frank Odhiambo