Blood Miracle
Red marrow makes most of the cells of our blood,
_A half-trillion plus every day.
Though we’re fully fashioned from regular mud,
_The blood renders mud living clay.
A stem cell matures to a single blood cell
_That travels around a few days,
Resembling vermillion or light, crimson jell,
_Accomplishing tasks that amaze.
In 60K miles of its vessels, it brings
_To trillions of cells what they need—
Precisely directed, a nutrient stream,
_Each cellular sector to feed.
Blood regulates systems, transports varied cells
_As oxygen, nutrients, waste—
Works twenty-four-seven at keeping us well
_Through all of the challenges faced.
The white warriors team up to fight off attacks
_Of things that would make us unwell.
The red cells take oxygen in hemo-paks,
_Empowering life in each cell.
Those small crossers over from blood to the brain
_Bring sustenance they have to share.
With tightly packed cells, no entry is gained
_By unwanted travelers there.
The veins bring the blood cells right back to the heart,
_With valves that both open and close—
So, going uphill they can never depart
_From paths their Designer first chose.
The liver and kidneys and lungs clean the blood;
_They filter out toxins and waste,
Returning it healthy and free from all crud,
_Then, ready in jobs to be placed.
Some ninety or more thousand times every day
_Blood does all of these and much more.
It hastens its way through the soft, lively clay
_Performing each challenging chore.
Who wrote the instructions? Who scheduled each task?
_Who engineered life from mere mud?
You already know; you don’t need to ask
_Who made this miraculous blood.
Hemo-paks: refers to the packaging or binding of oxygen with hemoglobin, within red blood cells.
Jan Mennite lives on the California Central Coast and is a semi-retired tax professional.
This poem would be a fun way for students to learn about blood; upon reading the last stanza, however, the Marxist “educators” in today’s classrooms would reject it outright.
Thanks for your kind comment, Cheryl. How sad that American children are “educated” by Marxists who would reject a fun teaching tool just because it might threaten the impact of their indoctrinating curricula.
Jan, what a great poem about the miracle of blood that as you say was produced by the “Designer” (with the unmistakable capitalization) of humans. Scientists are mere mortals who only observe the observable.
Hi, Roy, thanks for the kind and thoughtful comment. To your point, the observable often provide enough evidence to infer the unobservable. Science doesn’t have to go so far as to use a capital letter, as I believe Evan was correct in suggesting. However, failure by scientists to acknowledge compelling evidence for a miraculous source of wisdom and power demonstrates dishonesty. I recently mentioned to someone that the “average” human has sixty-thousand miles of blood vessels, which I had just learned. I wish I had snapped a shot of his face. I can hardly imagine it either.
Amazing versification on circulation, Jan. Plenty of information well supplied in attractive meter, with credit given where credit is due. Very much enjoyed your unusual poem.
Thank you much, Margaret! I guess the subject matter is unusual, though I didn’t think that while writing it. Learning about it was great fun; versifying the information learned into classical form was a bit more of a challenge than I imagined. 🙂
Blood is one of the most amazing creations—thanks for highlighting the miracle that it is!
You’re welcome, Michael! And thank you for the comment.
I will admit to being a little squeamish when it comes to the subject of blood, but you have managed to make the circulatory system sound glorious, in keeping with the title which frames the message beautifully. I believe the more that science reveals, the more it points in the direction of our Creator. Your wonderful closing stanza makes me want to sing along in celebration of the miracle of life. Jan, I love your poem!
Thank you, Susan, for your beautiful and gracious comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and that it inspired singing. Reading your comment makes me feel like singing, too. Hugs 🙂