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
On
Leaving Rehab in San Diego January 2006, Cured
Car accident on the way home
at
the airport approach crying silently in
Yasmin's
Rap-mobile
four bags
so heavy I can't lift them
in
the back
my
things exploding
from my
over-stuffed carry-ons
airport
floor luxury of chairs not required
I sit in line with my bags
and
crumpled paper -
Across the way a close shaved head
(mine a
tumble of tangle)
unremarkable
face
(I cry on the phone in my pink
glasses, people stare)
wearing
only close fitting pale t-shirt, athletic pants
thong
sandals
(black
turtleneck and cardigan, crystal and silver studded belt
faded
gold leather jacket and jeans)
beside him
a tiny slim briefcase
in
front an elegant stack of papers, unmarred
crisp,
white, 2 pages each held together with
25 precisely placed paper clips
aligned
perpendicular to the ground,
I turn up my i-pod
on shuffle
Ramones
Gimme Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
I face the gate as the pre-boarding
is announced
those
needing assistance and children traveling alone
a
large group of bent, damaged, crooked
people
hobble past
missing
limbs,
misshapen backs, body casts
medical
appliance wielding wheel-chairbound
life's
roller derby wreckage
(my own damage disguised)
[Originally
published in NHS 2006, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs06/Olmsted.htm.]