Professional Care

July 30, 1970  (I was 25)

            Professional Care

Report all exclusions, transgressions and intrusions.

Replace that used for your transfusions.

Refrain from fried foods,

but retain sense abilities for future use.

Don’t drink fortified juice of any kind.

When you speak, be sublime

and you’ll be fine if you take one yellow pill

and a blue four times a day.  Still

you’d better see me next week

and I’ll peek down your throat

examine the sclerotic coat of your eyes-

just to be sure, you understand.  I’d be surprised

if the condition doesn’t completely dissipate.

At any rate, there’s no need to worry.

We’re in no hurry.  All the tests have shown

it hasn’t grown and couldn’t possibly be malignant.

The pain is psychosomatic, purely a figment

of your imagination.  Listen, I’ve got to be at the station

by four o’clock.  I lecture your case tonight,

and I’ve got to arrive for dinner at five.

Oh, and you probably shouldn’t drive.

Get some rest; try not to get depressed,

be thankful you’re alive.

And remember, if you don’t feel great

in a couple of weeks we can operate.