I don’t operate often. When I do,
persons take note.
Nurses look amazed. They pale.
The patient is brought back to life, or so.
The reason I don’t do this more (I quote)
is: I have a living to failâ?”
because of my wife & sonâ?”to keep from earning.
â?”Mr Bones, I sees that.
They for these operations thanks you, what?
not pays you. â?”Right.
You have seldom been so understanding.
Now there is further a difficulty with the light:
I am obliged to perform in complete darkness
operations of great delicacy
on my self.
â?”Mr Bones, you terrifies me.
No wonder they didn’t pay you. Will you die?
â?”My
friend, I succeeded. Later.
(John Berryman)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Light Poems, Friendship Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Reasoning Poems, Medicine & Medical Poems, Self Poems, Nurses Poems, Obstacles PoemsBased on Keywords: further, complete, pay, didn, wonder, thanks, later, amazed, persons, quote, pays