Survivor

　　by Vijay Seshadri

　　 We hold it against you that you survived.

　　 People better than you are dead，

　　 but you still punch the clock.

　　 Your body has wizened but has not bled

　　 its substance out on the killing floor

　　 or flatlined in intensive care

　　 or vanished after school

　　 or stepped off the ledge in despair.

　　 Of all those you started with，

　　 only you are still around；

　　 only you have not been listed with

　　 the defeated and the drowned.

　　 So how could you ever win our respect？--

　　 you， who had the sense to duck，

　　 you， with your strength almost intact

　　 and all your good luck.