(chemo)

This morning
I find the books
left on my desk.
The yellow paper
marking the spot
I had asked
him to read
to his sister
about radiation
therapy.
He did not want
to make the call.

I have already
mailed her this
book, but she is
one of those
people who deos
not bother opening
mail. Gifts
and cards left in
piles on the living
room floor.

I don’t know hwy
I bother with
things like this
except it seems
immoral to me
to do nothing
when I can put’
my hands on
information
that might help
someone save
their life.

“Why would I be
calling, he said,
except to say
drink beet juice.
quoting my i
misinformation
back to me
verbatim.
Beet juice helps
with chemotherapy,
I marked that
on another page for someone else,
another disinterested
cancer patient.

I think I’ll just
try to save
my own life,
learn to live
the pang I feel
when I want to
share some good
truth.
Warm milk
with cardamon
at bedtime
for my childhood
friend who suffers
from insomnia.

My trips to the
xerox machine,
the post office
are clearly
a waste of time.
where is the cure
for someone
like me,
what book
that says how
to give something
that someone
will accept.
(wants).

7/6/99