Surviving St. Patrick’s Day

for Cathy

Too sick for green beer
she stayed home, watched bad films of
leprechaun horror.

Channel surfing at 3 am

Late night TV a
wonderland of fast money
junkyard of trashed dreams.

Inside the doctor’s exam room

Either it’s a loud
HVAC system or
white noise to mask fear.

The doctor will be with you shortly

Latex gloves. Cotton
swabs. Antiseptic. What would
MacGyver create?

In the doctor’s office

Perched on the exam
table like a rib roast on
white butcher paper.