"Don't laugh too hard, " she sobbed.
But he did and she went
through a time that was numb
reminding her of a
ride on the subway to
the dentist's office with
a Mother who took great
pains to find Italian
ice sold at street vendors
(the only thing you can
eat after being shot
in the cheek).
And after the numbness
had cleared only to be
replaced by a saga
of pain she wished once more
for the one who would bring
cool cloths to a week-long
flu-stricken bedside the
only authority
who can write excuse notes
and finally say
"I think you can stomach Saltines by now."
But he did and she went
through a time that was numb
reminding her of a
ride on the subway to
the dentist's office with
a Mother who took great
pains to find Italian
ice sold at street vendors
(the only thing you can
eat after being shot
in the cheek).
And after the numbness
had cleared only to be
replaced by a saga
of pain she wished once more
for the one who would bring
cool cloths to a week-long
flu-stricken bedside the
only authority
who can write excuse notes
and finally say
"I think you can stomach Saltines by now."
