Elective

sheets stiff as the fabric of my fear i read each word of consents cautioning nausea
sudden death – mersas frankenstein pain points in my side

the soft voiced nurse with cold hands smiles
blue capped needle glint
plastic port
i count
ten
nine

light
cold
i may
hear voices
her hands no warmer
sudden death has not yet found me
shifting under sheets tender flesh swells against staples
oxy halts pain but not cartoon microbes i feel crawling from pure white sheets shrouding me