18 NOVEMBER UNREALITY
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
NURSE JODI DOERING RECALLS DEATHBED SCENES
OF PATIENTS BREATHING THEIR LAST INTAKE OF OXYGEN
‘100% VAPOTHERM’
STILL DENYING
IT’S COVID THAT DID FOR THEM
ON THE SCALE OF UNREALITY
IS THIS HIGHER OR LOWER THAN BURLY BLOKE’S WIFE WITH DEATH CERTIFICATE IN HAND
WAITING FOR HER HUSBAND TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR ONCE MORE?
PATTERNS ESTABLISHED OVER LIFETIMES
ARE NOT READILY ERASED
MAYBE ESPECIALLY
IN ONE STREET TOWNS
WHICH FROWN ON VARIATION
THE FUTURE SEEN THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRRORS
ENABLES DEATH ROW PRISONERS TO LIVE WITH THEMSELVES
WHEN NEARING THEIR END OF DAYS
LIKE ‘LAN’ HALL
WHO’S DUE TO TAKE THE NEEDLE TOMORROW
WOULD HE WANT TO BE RE-BORN
LIKE VIRGINIA WOOLF’S ORLANDO
OR KEEN BY NOW TO GET THE EXIT DONE?
WISHING FOR MERCY EVERYWHERE YOURS TRULY THE NEWS POET
