Bills of Health

Red faced
short breathed
30 pounds overweight – at least – probably 50.
I thought of my own physical,
BMI,
blood pressure,
ECG,
laboratory tests
and
probing finger ….
he couldn’t have passed the same medical examination.

The doctor said he didn’t, of that there was no doubt
he would have failed then
and
would fail now. “ So, how come?”

Antarctica in summer is winter in America,
for North Minnesota,
work imitates the seasons : fecund in spring and summer
barren in autumn
dormant in obese cold and wizened sun.

A man with two children and wife
well-paid job,
or unemployment?
Self esteem, or Food Stamps?

Vanishings,
what can be seen, and what can be signed away …
“ I take my physician’s hat off –
and put my social worker’s responsibility on.”