the street clinic

i see my

doctor on the street corner

with another

doctor,

eating donuts and smoking

cigarettes.

two large coffees

in hand.

quickly

they toss them aside

as they see me coming up

the street.

what else are they

keeping

from me?

my doctor says hey.

i say hey

back.

your x-rays came in he,

says.

they look good, real good.

you've got at least six more

months.

huh, i say.

you must be thinking of someone

else.

oh. right, right. you look just

like this other patient that i have.

did you have

your flu shot yet?

i say no.

well roll up your sleeve.

he then takes out a syringe

from his pocket

and stabs me in the arm.

thanks i tell him.

then walk away.

when i look back i see

him retrieving his donuts

from the bushes.