La Bohème

By: Charles Giuliano - Jun 20, 2020

 

La Bohème

Coughing blood at night
Like in opera
La Bohème
Bone chilling arias
Multitudinous seas incarnadine
Into handkerchiefs
Signifier of imminence
The grim reaper
It’s been years now
Every possible test
Up this and down that
Guzzle to zatch
When will I die
Asked my primary
Just the other day
Pretty and petite
Twinkle and smile
Smart as a whip
Why must you know
Bemused and surprised
Looked in her eyes
Got lots to do
Need a deadline
So to speak
Ran more tests
Tests of tests
Second opinions
Later she called
Not grand opera
Said with a laugh
Such grim humor
Yesterday with another
Trims my toenails
Every three months
When did you last see primary
A routine question
What did you talk about
This and that
A lot about innards
She wouldn’t tell me
When I will die
The foot doctor
Rather deadpan
Strictly business
Snip and clip
Cracked up
Still no answers
Just more appointments
For every body part
Head to toe
So it goes
Pokes and probes
Out and about
From here to there
Scenic country drives
Masked and gloved
On the way home
Bandit raids for food
Drives in the Berkshires
Up to Bennington
Down to Pittsfield
What seniors
Call their social life
Passing time in
God’s waiting room
Miles before we sleep