way out east

DSC00225

back from a conference

with a certificate

(currently merely virtual)

confirming that

i know something

or other

but meanwhile

a friend is in hospital

tubes up his nose

and in his mouth

restraints so his hands

can’t rip them from his

hurting

throat

but at least he’s

awake

today

alert

and a bit alarmed

i told him

“you can’t go

without buying

one last round”

it reminds me

of dad

twenty six years ago

only this time

it wasn’t the hospital

smell

that got to me

it was all the little

noises

beep blip ding

cough

tinkle beep

a person could go crazy

stuck in intensive care

like that

i’d prefer to just

sleep it all out

and wake up

maybe not whole

but new