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