Arrhythmia

“When I was born
the doctor told her
I might be an asshole,
but my health would be okay.”

That’s what he says
when I discover his heartbeat
is a horse’s gallop—
expecting him to run away.

But he stays
awake, I count the rhythm
1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3,
until the numbered sounds
betray me to think
that holding on would be easy.

This article appears in October 2009.