Issue #16 – PLEASE SEE ME

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Susan Shea-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Two Poems by Susan Shea Helping Me Into the Newness When we thought it was just a cold, before anyone knew there was such a thing as COVID pushing its way into the world, my coughing sent my man out of the room; but my little beast Max evolved from feline to angel saint. He couldn’t look away from my gasps, laying by my side all night, looking at me, letting his eyes carry the warmth ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Joe Bisicchia-3 Poems-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Three Poems by Joe Bisicchia day-to-day operations if only the stock the blood the labs the sterilization the discharge the surveys the personalized health record the clinical outcomes the meaningful use we never forget if only in the middle of the critical integration amidst all the clinical navigation quality control everything clinical clinical the critical is critical if only the mergers and acquisitions the financial the daily realization we come to our census we shall meet the need if only to remember the soul the soul the soul the soul the healing the dignity of all ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Victoria Mack-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Two Poems by Victoria Mack We Run Like Trees After Danez Smith Dream mountains—blue, purple, gray. Green valley, copper sky, white sun. All the sick girls are here. Boys too. But not as ghosts. Not shadows. No one lurks, haunts. We’re real. Thick. Bright, with neon outlines. Bright as Times Square. No fog. No mist to swallow our heads whole. Here, we keep our heads. Our brains are fast as trains. And yes, some have their chairs still. We know ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Shawn Aveningo-Sanders-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Two Poems by Shawn Aveningo-Sanders After His Second Nephrectomy Is my hospital gown tied in the back? Why can't I pee anymore? I take my time tying the cotton strings while I try to figure out how to answer the second question. There you go, Dad; we don’t want you flashing those pretty nurses. After the deluge of scans, lab tests, signed DNRs & consent forms, how did ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Bart Edelman-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Night of the Gorillas by Bart Edelman Night of the Gorillas You wouldn’t have known; After all, how could you? But, then, there they stood, Shoulder to massive shoulder, Staring back at you for recognition. However, the fear was so great, You simply collapsed and sobbed. One by one they approached— Somewhat cautiously, at first— Trying to decide what to do. They knew you were troubled, And communicated back and forth. A few wanted to handle you, Cast their arms around ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Joe Cottonwood-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Three Poems by Joe Cottonwood Biopsy While sedated on gurney I forget to breathe. Nurse (tiny woman) shouts, “Breathe, dammit!” so I do. I pay attention to women. Another nurse (burly, male) apologizes for shaving my chest hair. I understand men. A voice from somewhere asks me to choose music for the room—Beethoven or Mozart? I say, “Bluegrass.” Voice asks, “Huh?” Dosed with fentanyl, mind detached, I follow my body into an extraction factory— fingers, scalpels, giant needles, a sharp and delicate ballet to ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Kristin Camitta Zimet-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Three Poems by Kristin Camitta Zimet if IF I stay awake if I am loyal enough clever enough You will not die If I ask the best questions If I praise the nurse appease the nurse fire the nurse If I second-guess the doctor If I push the doctor hard outside the protocol the box the casket make the doctor notice who you are why you are irreplaceable IF I am lovable enough beautiful enough worth staying for You will hang on If I am seductive selfless reassuring selfish harsh ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Judith Shapiro-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2024 If I Could Do It All Over Again by Judith Shapiro If I Could Do It All Over Again what if I had gone north instead of south; stood up tall instead of hunched; parted my hair in the middle instead of left; gone skydiving; learned to play the violin, speak Russian what if I’d stayed put; hadn’t insisted on change, big change, exciting change; sold everything; packed up ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Frances Jo Grossman-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 My Daughter's Celebratory Private Plane Ride by Francey Grossman My Daughter's Celebratory Private Plane Ride what if she had failed chemistry then no celebration what if the weather had shut down her flight what if her fiancée had not been available to join her what if the pilot had more experience what if the pilot had not chosen to play stop and go what if she had waited for a different pilot what if ...

PSM 16 Poetry Template-Lou Ventura-POETRY-PSM16

Poetry Issue #16: What If? April 30, 2025 Three Poems by Lou Ventura First Week Home I am trying to believe what I’ve been told, but I see the jagged, angry zipper of stitches running down the left side of your head – not the half-moon shape they promised, and I see your eyes, emptied by fear and pharmaceuticals, while your smile pleads with me and the girls to be reassured, but I know you too well – I know your unrelenting desire to consume everything life ...