...A poem I stitched together from a conversation I overheard in the Urgent Care clinic where I spent an hour getting some advice for dealing with a persistent cough and bronchitis.

URGENT CARE

The Gray-haired G.P. smiled and said,
“We’ve come to the age
When these things can’t be neglected,” meaning we,
He and I, are old.
“If your heart hurts, check it out,”
And he checked it out
With the help of a skinny boy of maybe twenty-five
Who came from Alaska
To be a medical technician in San Diego
And never went back since 1999.

Blood pressure 132 over 70, heart rate 64, temperature 98.6,
EKG perfect, breathing normal,
Breathing normal, breathing normal, normal.

“Well, it’s not your heart that hurts.
Maybe your rib bruised by a cough
Or you slept wrong
Or some other thing that you can’t even remember
Happened, happened.

Stand straight. Sit up straight. Don’t give in to it.
Walk the same as usual except pretend
You’re in the army.”


It’s a worry, isn’t it,” the boy named Charley said,
“When the hurt is in the region of your heart.”