In our house we know where the sofa is,
and the television and the comfortable chair.
We’re familiar with the color of our walls.
Our inner furnishings, though, are hidden from view.
Our organs make themselves known only when distressed.
They break their silence when the liver swells,
intestines cramp or kidneys fail.
Leaders among them, heart and lungs,
hold honored positions.
They are the Givers of Life.
And the nervous system gets credit
for its tireless communicating.
It’s the army of foot soldiers -
pancreas, spleen—diligent companions
who keep us functioning unawares,
performing their tasks like clockwork.
They are seldom bathed in the warmth of appreciation.