Things Impossible to Swallow • poems by Pamela Garvey • number 24 in the 2River Chapbook Series • 2River

From the Arm Chair of the Nursing Home

I worry about you, dear. Puppy dogs
on your scrubs, smiley face
on your name tag. I heard you humming
“Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”
It was you—cleaning Mrs. Schmidt’s ass
and humming. What kind of fool
would give up an emerald city
for Auntie Em, hogs and a nasty neighbor?