Home

“Reanimation Unit” appears in the Immortality issue of Eye to the Telescope, guest edited by C. C. Rayne.

If you do a search for ‘reanimation unit,’ you’ll find the medical definition: a ward dedicated to resuscitation and other life-sustaining procedures. I know the equipment, the lingo. I’ve felt the rush of adrenaline in the moment of crisis, followed by the tense boredom of nursing a critical case. It’s a tough job, but one that has moments of glory.

This is one of those poems that came into being quickly, where I edited only a little. The entry was the title, thinking of reanimation as a spell, thinking of where that spell would be needed–a warfront. The government-style job description came next—-a necromancer with suitable qualifications.

The turn in this poem also comes from work I do in my professional life related to burnout and mental health outcomes, particularly in the healthcare workforce. These are jobs that demand full commitment, and that commitment can take its toll.

As in all things, even the semblance of immortality has a cost.

Check out the whole incredible issue of Eye to the Telescope!