Next Thursday

(for my friend)

 

How are you?  What’s

up?  I have an operation

to excise a tumor:

is that normal

talk in our coffee shop?

 

Do you mind?  I can’t

feel it, but it bothers me

a lot—I think I can

 

manage until then, though

it gets hard, you know?

You don’t?

 

You’ve never had this

in the flesh?  You’ve never

Felt the fear?  I could

Wish I were you!

 

Have to go?  I understand:

no, I’ll stay here for

a while, have

another cuppa.

 

I like today’s blend;

it smells, well, it smells

like oily health.

 

Yum.  See you.  See

You tonight?  Well,

if you can make

it.  If not, well, I guess

I’ll understand.

 

C L Couch