Hitherto Abounding With Copious Life Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

“What’s that damn banging? ”
said Howard
swallowing three more pain killers.
“Mickey mouse stuff, ” I noted.
”Don’t start, ” said my sister.
“The man’s in pain—
and there’s nothing more real than pain.”
Horrific banging still coming
from next door
Howard turned up the TV
to no avail
then he struggled to stand
but flopped into the chair
the herniated disk in his back plus sciatica
contorting tears from his eyes
which he quickly concealed
by pulling his tee shirt over his head.
The walls shook, noise deafening,
Howard moaning
a scene from a madhouse.
I stared at my sister,
then removed the bottle of
perfect yellow pills from my pocket
Howard’s head still covered.
“NO, ” screamed my sister
so back they went.
“What’s that banging? ” I finally asked.
“Evelyn’s putting new rugs
in the whole apartment.”
“The woman’s 83
her husband Harry’s dead,
and she got dementia…”
“Just forgets little things.”
”The other day when you weren’t home
and Howard was snoring
UPS gave her the package from
Life Extension
and she put it in the refrigerator
you asked her why
she said because the box was cold
cold yeah
14 degrees out.”
I stared at Howard saying,
“Can he breath like that? ”
head still covered.
Howard musta heard because he said,
“Gimme the yellow stuff, Steve.”
Then he lowered his tee shirt
eyes still drenched with tears
he moaned, “Please.”
I stared at my sister
not wanting to incur her wrath
but that Please broke my heart
so I gave him three yellow treats
saying, ”They go under the tongue
designed that way for super quick absorption.”
No sound from my sister
her face far off:
“When mommy died
Evelyn held me in her arms
I can feel her strong arms now
felt so lost then.”
Howard smiled, the yellow wonders
working fast.
“But why the new carpet? ” I said,
“half the time she don’t know
what day it is.”
“Tuesday, ” said Howard
rising to his feet,
“feel like a new man,
well, thanks to Steve.”
“Well, thanks to Tony T Jr.
the gym teacher at Spinoza HS
gets ‘em from his father
who got thousands
scattered around the apartment
from Dr. Coffin,
his name, I’m not making it up,
apparently Tony T Sr.
did Dr. Coffin a favor,
you know what I mean? ”
”I wasn’t born yesterday, ” said Howard,
reaching for his toes
which he touched
then flipped up in triumph.
“She’s trying to be alive, ” said my sister
the tears already
rehearsing
death.