#524 - astrajab

 

9.vi.21

524

2.157

astrajab

 

I was a needle-phobe

could never make junkie

ran out of the surgery stuck

had to be chased down, knee high

and in the legend, next time

at the inoculation centre, for littlies

I was so good I got it twice

cause they could tell from the tears

who’d had it…

 

then there was Dr Habashy almost did me in

when I slumped forward – cholera, typhoid

dreamt so fast, eyes rolled back in my head

 

intimate when the pin goes in

(a penetrative medicine)

 

never felt thing at a time

as with Ross River mosquito

that bravery is all an act

 

day after though, expect less

a dizzy lack of circulation

some battle in the blood

sense of smell heightened

(smoke in nose, for instance)

music is more

and the aches!

worst night’s sleep

no hair, no dog, hungover

 

a go-slow

as the garden does

 

call it the steadying…

expect to forget certain things

saunter to mailbox

siesta ahead!

 

and it’s on the news every night

 

would you rather see needles going into arms

or mice come up from under tin? –

silos of a plague

and pack their beach towels for spring

by shaggin’ wagon in the wheel hubs

leaping from the dash, nibbling

and fucking  

all COVID-fearless

 

such is this age we are in!