Hypochondriac

THIS MORNING WHILE I SAT ON THE THRONE

AT WHICH BEING MANLY

I AM EXTREMELY ADEPT

I NOTICED TO MY SHOCK AND SURPRISE

THAT MY BIG TOE

ON MY LEFT FOOT WAS TURNING BLUE

NOW SINCE I AM A CANCER PATIENT

I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED

I’M DYING BY THE INCH I THOUGHT

I HAD VISIONS OF THE BLUE CREEPING UP MY LEG

TILL IT WAS GONE

I SET ABOUT THINKING OF A GUEST LIST FOR MY FUNERAL

AND THINGS I’D LIKE THE EULOGISTS TO SAY

GIVING MY BODY TO SCIENCE

HAVE THEM GIVING IT BACK

AS USED AND ABUSED

WONDERING WHO I LEAVE MY JOKE BOOKS TO

OR TO WHOM I WOULD LEAVE MY JOKE BOOKS

THEN I WET MY FINGER

AND RUBBED MY TOE

AND MIRABILE DICTU

THE COLOR CAME OFF

I WAS HIGHLY RELIEVED

AND DISAPPOINTED

I’D DONE SO MUCH PLANNING

SO MY FOOT’S BACK TO NORMAL

AND MY NEW BOUGHT

MULTI COLORED SLIPPERS

HAVE CONFESSED TO THE CRIME

I CAN GO BACK READING THE PAPER

IN PEACE OH SO SUBLIME

FRANK A VOLLMER