Poem Goes to the Hospital

Becomes addicted to
placeboes and the sounds of words
tented over his laboured
breathing . . . 

A tube is inserted through his nose
to his stomach so he can
concentrate on his language
unimpeded by meals, taste, tongues . . . 

Cancer is planted at the base of 
his cerebral cortex—this
to accelerate the rhythm
and repeat his motifs—but
it makes Poem tired . . . 

Germs invade
the vents and siphons
into Poem’s system—he is 
corrupted, nervous and 
    circulating
          meaning slips 
into fever,
                  delusional, he convulses, generates
a new form: 

                    a sleek,
                    elegant twist of flesh
                    the nurses don’t see as
                    Poem floats out the white window.