carefully measured
you are hanging pictures
in the waiting room
of a cancer clinic
it is what you do
hanging pictures
there are photos
several of them
forming a series
each of the photographs
is of a greenhouse
there are fields of green colour
reflected through
windows of mist
and promise
and with the green
the promise is clear
plants promise life
and this is what
you are thinking
as you carefully measure
distances between nails
checking to make sure
that everything is level
you overhear
hairless conversations
about chemotherapy
and morphine pumps
you mark a spot in pencil
on the wall in front of you
you have to drill a hole
to receive a plug
that will hold a bolt
that will secure the frame
so that nothing will be stolen
your work progresses quickly
as the afternoon
slowly tumbles towards evening
you hear conversations
in brief pieces
one nurse to another
10 cc's of this or that
a doctor mentions another test
two patients compare notes
you continue with your work
each part of each second
reminding you
that six years have passed
since your mother died of cancer
since your mother
had these same conversations
everything hung securely
you make sure
to clean the glass
that covers each art work
you collect your tools
and fold them away
to their dark slumber
each in its place
each tool box
properly packed
you push your dolly
loaded with tools
back to your truck
load everything
remembering to tie
each and every object
securely to the metal walls
this, like all other activities
of the day
carefully measured
to ensure safety
passage
success
in this clearly
dangerous world
Copyright© michael dennis
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