Tattoo

(Rituximab, Open Infusion Bay, James Ward)

The first drop

takes a long time to fall

down the endless tube

that feeds into me.

I glance sideways

at the man

in the adjacent chair

Lucky he does not

see me stare

at the Medusa

tattoed on his arm

His needle penetrates

her charms.

What would they say

if I suddenly stood

and burst into song?

Would they applaud
and encore for more?

Or bury deeper in despair?

What if the pious stood

and offered up a prayer?

It takes a long

time to heal

As long as the

slow drip
that slips down

me

to steal

my free B cells

The anatomy

of a human disease

has no real

language

Just a careful

steal

of medical

and military rhymes

While the heart's

beats

fight

for more time.

Images: fotobank.ru