Bedside Manner

Photo by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash

Dear Ones, Today’s breath is about brave things. About people who have to make choices about the care of their bodies, and about putting more work out into the world.

First, a poem draft about an imagined medical visit.

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedThe traveling nurse gives clear directions and good eye contact,tensely resting in her plum colored scrubs,placid eyes over her surgical maskwith a little bit of mascara smeared on the top edge.Personable, kind, warm -- all options checked and the full set in place. She asks me to choose which procedurewhile from behind layers of sweaters against exam room coldmy body huddles into itselfremembering the days of warm touch, open smiles, easy health

Second, and, perhaps more terrifying: a new offering.

A while back I mentioned wanting to record audio of short (short) stories inspired by the dead folks in the cemetery down the way. With the support of my Wednesday Open Studio and some dear friends, the first episode is here:

Let me know what you think, or if there are any interesting resting places you’d like to hear a story from.