Thursday, March 13, 2025

A37 ~ Thursday, March 13, 2025

As I wait for them to call my number
strangely enough, enough men with walkers

I imagine they arrived years ago

weather outside is beautiful, like you
ask not whether I will sit for decades
in this room, on this chair, until I need
the same care and attention as others

for a blood test, I forget my hunger
or the cool breeze and warmth from the sunshine
reality can wait for my number

taken from a pull tab in a deli
however, in a hospital, no meat
everywhere clean and tidy, except time
makes impressions, water stains, hidden dust

tooth and nail, I wait for thirty-seven
only, I need an espresso coffee

catch me while you can, am I stuck, not quite
as I have freedom to leave this behind
lessons to learn about consequences
leave behind my responsibility

maybe I did this when I called in sick
yet, that was to protect others from flu

not COVID-19 but some strange virus
until they bring my walker, trim my beard
murder the opportunity to walk
beneath the cherry trees in Evanston
each day possibility slips away
respiratory infection, I am not well

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