T.I.A.

T.I.A.



I’VE HAD A T.I.A.
WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS
IS LONG WORD GIBBERISH
FOR A MINI STROKE

IT HAPPENED IN THE SHOWER
WHEN THE WORLD WENT AWAY
AND I COULDN’T MOVE
I DROPPED THE SOAP
WHICH ALERTED
SHE WHO NEVER SLEEPS
TO COME LOOK

I SAID I DON’T FEEL SO WELL
WHICH BOTHERED ME
I FELT BEFORE I DIE
I SHOULD SAY SOMETHING
MEMORABLE

NOT
I DON’T FEEL SO WELL

WELL WE HAD THE PARAMEDICS
AND I RODE TO THE HOSPITAL
IN AN AMBULANCE
WITH THE SIREN SOUNDING
AND ME
TELLING JOKES TO THE ATTENDANTS

THEY PRODDED
AND PROBED
CAT SCANNED
AND X-RAYED
TESTED BLOOD AND URINE

DREW THEMSELVES UP TO IMPERIAL HEIGHTS
AND DECLARED
WE THINK
IT WAS A T.I.A.
BROUGHT ON BY ALL THE OTHER
THINGS
THAT BUG YOU

SO THEY GAVE ME A NEW MEDICINE
TO GO WITH ALL THE OTHERS I HAVE
I TAKE SO MANY
I THINK THEY’RE M&MS

BUT WHAT REALLY BOTHERED ME
WAS HOW PROSAIC
MY LAST WORDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN

SO I’LL THINK I’LL SAY THEM NOW
BEFORE IT COMES ON ME
LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
AND I AM TOO BUSY
OR CONFUSED

FATHER
INTO YOUR HANDS
I COMMEND
MY SPIRIT

FRANK A VOLLMER