-a poem Manteno State Hospital by Megan Bland The state bought the land Just north of Kankakee Some, thought it a good idea But others disagreed Someone raised the walls Someone laid the floors And in nineteen-thirty Someone opened the doors Someone let them in Some afflicted with disease Some searching for a job And those from overseas Someone was a therapist Someone was a clerk Someone was a doctor Someone was a jerk Someone worked the gardens Someone worked the farms Someone put out fires Someone pulled alarms Someone yelled out in the night Someone ran down the hall Someone slept in perfect quiet Someone started it all Someone was disoriented Someone was found dead Someone listened to the radio Or voices in their head Someone mopped the floors Someone made the food Someone took out laundry Someone was a prude Someone was given a nice warm bath Another threw meds down the drain Someone sat up and uneasily laughed Someone got shocks to the brain Someone bound in ice cold sheets Another out for a smoke Someone gave a dental exam Another suffered a stroke Someone tried to cut themselves Someone watched in vain Someone changed the channel Someone suffered pain Someone got released Someone sat and waved Someone got their hair cut Another went unshaved Someone was a janitor Someone was a nurse Some were getting better Some were getting worse Someone wore perfume Someone wore restraints Someone took advantage Someone made complaints Someone did the research Someone discovered a trick Someone made a medicine To make them not seem sick Someone watched the first snow fall Someone sat and stared Someone counted all the spoons Some went undeclared Someone changed the linens Someone prescribed the drug Someone made an ashtray Another wove a rug Someone did the best they could Someone quit the job Someone couldn't handle it Another broke down and sobbed Someone was really nice Someone really mean Someone came to visit Someone made a scene Populations dwindled Finances were compared Someone put an end to it Someone got prepared Someone opened the doors, Someone set them free Others, they were transferred Some back to Kankakee Someone suffered homelessness Someone found a use Someone couldn't handle it Someone turned to booze Someone is still buried there Someone unreturned Someone is unaware Someone unconcerned So in the end they disappear Though some buildings still remain If walls could talk they'd tell you dear All was not in vain