Guess What

GUESS WHAT

I’VE DROPPED MY DRAWERS
SO MUCH
THE LAST FEW YEARS
I’M STARTING TO THINK
IT’S MEDICAL JARGON
FOR HELLO

NOW I’VE HAD CATHETERS
STUCK UP MY DANGLING PARTICIPLE
TUBES POKED DOWN MY THROAT
THROUGH MY NOSE
CHEMICALS
POURED INTO ME
INTRAVENOUSLY
LENSES CHANGED IN MY EYES
METAL SCREEN FOR HERNIA
CAT SCANNED FOR CANCER
BUT NEVER
HAVE I SUFFERED THE IGNOMINY
THAT IS TO COME

I REALIZE
ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN
IT’S PROBABLY ONLY AN IG
BUT IT’S HAPPENING TO ME

I’M HAVING A COLONOSCOPY

NOW PAUL HAS SAID
THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN GREATER HONOR
TO THE PARTS OF THE BODY
THAT LACKED IT
THAT IN GOD’S KINGDOM
THERE ARE NO INFERIOR PARTS

BY INFERENCE
THERE ARE NO THROWAWAY PEOPLE

THAT GOD GIVES DIGNITY
TO THOSE WHO MOST NEED IT
AND IN A REAL WAY
WHAT WE DO TO THE LEAST OF OUR BRETHREN
THAT WE DO UNTO HIM

SO I SAID TO THE DOCTOR
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING

HE DIDN’T SMILE
I GUESS HE’D HEARD IT BEFORE

FRANK VOLLMER