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