Sitting on the edge of the table
a halo of white hair, blue eyes pleading
pulling the cotton gown tighter
around his frail body
he takes it from his wallet
a photo of a young man in a swim suit
rippled muscles, cocky grin
standing on a dock, straight and strong
looking ahead at an unchanging future
this is who I am he needs her to know
this fledgling nurse taking his blood
pressure, poking his belly, his flaccid chest
making notes on a chart, more
concerned about the old man before her
whose heart beats capriciously, who has
indigestion, insomnia, incontinence
& shortness of breath
this is who I really am
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