poem

 Briar PatchMemories hide in liquid spaces betweenAxons and dendrites like rabbitsResting in the tangles of a briar patch Sometimes they escape —Invasive snakes, wildfires in the distance And this becomes a frantic forgettingSome migrate to muscleWhere they can ride along Anonymously in arms and thighs Not doing a damn thing Until one day old suburban dad Tweaks a hammy and can ’t walk Right for a weekThen they start pulling their weight —Start flashing old scenesOf lost athleticism and vigor Some seek shelter in the liverOnly to be exposed By the solitary gin drinkerAs recollections of every timeHe ever hated himselfAnd hoped it would go awayBy morning Some hole up in the marrow of bonesThese are the ones you just wanted to be safe But then you get oldYou fall and break a hip,Three or four ribsThe marrow spills outScreaming and screaming aboutHow much it all hurts —but worth it1/4/24

Source: Buckeye Surgeon - January 4, 2024 Category: Surgery Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD FACS Source Type: blogs