Poems from "Lacerations"
by Gary Beck
Doctor Visit
The ill line up and wait
hoping for treatment, cure.
Officious clerks ignore you
as you stand on frail legs,
unsure if you might fall
before youre called.
Youre sent to a waiting room
and wait. And wait.
Then, name mispronounced
youre taken to an examination room,
where you wait. And wait. And
A nurse comes in,
takes vitals, says:
The doctor will be right with you.
You wait. And wait. And
It is almost an hour
after your appointment time.
The doctor comes in,
tells you to do things at home,
tells you to come back in three months
and quickly departs
without giving you a chance
to discuss your condition.
You go back to the desk,
wait with others
to make an appointment.
Moderates
When its not too hot
and not too cold
urban residents
enjoy themselves more
than in extreme weather,
conditioned to indoors
spending most of their time
with climate controlled tv,
or the internet,
not as hardy
as their forebearers.
Debate
Over the years
many have argued
whether or not
there is dignity in labor.
If one toils mightily
yet gets no fame,
fortune, other reward
except subsistence,
some believe
we are just slightly evolved
from the beasts.
If we are part
of the great mass
of undistinguished humanity
living obscurely
by the sweat of effort,
many more fed
it is insufficient
to justify the purpose
of our species existence.
Growth Spurt
In 1814
we werent more advanced
then in 1714.
But in 1914
we were industrialized
and made modern wars
with tanks, airplanes,
powerful weapons
to kill each other.
By 2014
we progressed enough
to destroy the planet,
leading some to speculate
that by 2114
we could obliterate
the solar system.
Faker Spouts
The President complains
about fake news
as if he invented the concept
used by so many before him
and frightened followers believe him,
as he leads them to confusion
hopefully not persuading them
to drink Kool-Aid.
Copyright reserved. Please do not reproduce without consent.