H e a r t   S o n s   &   H e a r t   D a u g h t e r s   of   A l l e n   G i n s b e r g

N a p a l m   H e a l t h   S p a :   R e p o r t   2 0 1 4 :   A r c h i v e s   E d i t i o n

 

 

SUZI KAPLAN OLMSTED

 

 

Emergency Room, (redux)

 

Young woman pushing stroller and wheelchair

Wheelchair man

His right eye a red puffy slit

A boxer’s eye

Tries to rise out of his circumstances

Foiled immediately

By wheelchair

 

****

 

In my condition

The clearest indication of

Progress

Is my ability to keep a promise

 

****

 

Ex-priest ex-drunk

tells of final suicide morning

February frogs croaking

Behind St. Anne’s Rectory

4 o’clock in the morning

Ready for rehab

A question of faith

 

If I say I believe in the Three Jewels

But take refuge in norco

In what do I really believe?

 

 

[Originally published in NHS 2006, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs06/Olmsted.htm.]