Ed Go

CANCER POEM #9:
ELEPHANT AS METAPHOR
[in the room]

i have the pills so i take the pills
time is running out—
open veins in my arms

from the delta of my palm to the
underelbow tenderness
time now running in

& time is running on its footlets
[footfalls in the rafters]
time is blood
creeping through
the tubes to this machine—

* * * * *

chase it down with
vermouth & gin
[running   out&in]
running long     or into     water
     conscience turns at prescience

& hemingway has asked me twice
if my disease has moved me—

whomfor is its tolling now
i tell him —i’m anemic