5 Haiku and a Limerick

Stiff sad, tight blonde curl
Short white coat no meaning, needle
That brow, bead of sweat?

IV cart wheels catch, clank
Eyes avert, new silence, mind noise ricochets
Metal doors slide too slow

Third grandson’s safe smile
Sam tests fourth bottle’s first sip
Five years now, no relapse

Looming ring of eyes
Expectant looks at last chime
“I’ll call you back soon”

Now well-known entrance
Slow walk resigned, nausea
Familiar face doesn’t say hi

There once was a doctor McMorrow
Whose trach care filled me with sorrow
With port aimed to eye
Coughed lung butter did fly
I smiled, “See you tomorrow”

JJ Kempiners, Chicago, Class of 2001