V.A.
By Terry Severhill
Very aggravating
Sitting here at 2 North,
V.A. Regional Medical Center, La Jolla
Waiting—
God, how many hours, weeks, years
Have I spent waiting on a reluctant
Government?
Signs—
Signs all around—
"Depression"—
Well yes it is—
This whole fucking place is.
"Cognitive Mood Disorder Clinic"
Huh? That sign pisses me off for some reason.
"Psychiatry Emergency Clinic"—
Why don't they just say—
"This place is for all you pissed off
Rage filled, bummed out assholes"
but that would just be another sign.
Under the sign
"Depression"
They list 9 signs.
I have 7.
I'm so depressed by the revelation.
I got here early—
That must be a sign of something.
I wasn't the first. Just a kicked-backed black dude about my age—
A regular—the doctors and staff know him by name.
More "clients/patients" trickle in—
A couple look like WW II vets.
Only one looks under thirty.
I'm nervous—
I'm nuts—
I'm just a "little" crazy.
Ha. Ha.
Why else would I be in 2 North?
(2 North is a walk in psychiatric clinic, 2 South is the lockdown ward)
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