An ode to a neuron

A PV cell that was patched and filled by Saishree Badrinarayanan in the medial entorhinal cortex

I start growing, even before you are born

I grow in various sizes,

Sometimes short and stout,

Or long and strong,

As I grow I talk with others around me,

But only with the ones I trust,

For if I fail to speak with them,

I might as well turn to dust,

With them I help make your thoughts, 

And memories,

Your innermost desire,

And your darkest enemy

Such is our relationship, 

That as you grow older,

You have the power,

To make me stronger or weaker

But as you grow old, you seem to forget, 

That without me, you can neither write nor read,

Listen nor speak,

Recognize pain from pleasure,

And nor would you be able to run away from terror

And when I die, I take with me all our little secrets

Your thoughts and memory – both old and new

Your fantasies and desires, 

And most importantly, a part of you 


– Saishree Badrinarayanan