your last day of radiation
everyone at the clinic
rips into applause
as you walk out the door
just because you’re not dead yet
just because they’re not you

it’s as if you’ve performed some sort of magic trick
your skin is red & you’ve made peace of mind disappear
without anyone even knowing it was gone

one day
you will run out of rabbits
to pull out of your hat.

JOHN DORSEY is the former poet laureate of Belle, Missouri and the author of Pocatello Wildflower. He may be reached at archerevans@yahoo.com.