Inside Here
By
Jennifer Angelina Petro
Inside here:
Regimented, monitored, life-signs checked,
“It’s time to eat,” and, “attention please,
Level two trauma alert, ETA four minutes,
attention please, level two trauma alert, ETA four minutes,
attention please, level two trauma alert, ETA four minutes.”
The meditation room is off limits right now
Since they don’t have anyone to keep an eye on me
While I pray.
“Attention please, level three trauma alert, ETA now,
attention please, level three trauma alert, ETA now,
attention please, level three trauma alert, ETA now.”
Inside here:
Suffering, shock-brained-slow-moving/talking people
Try to be friendly, “Welcome to the party,” another patient says
As I enter the craft room, “You are who you are,” she says
As I sit down amidst the stares, Zen-doodle coloring books,
Beads, tempera paints, crayons, and colored pencils,
And start to draw a golden dragon. “You are
Who you are,” I say to myself as I add crimson wings
To the dragon that open out over a valley of Saint George’s
And Saint Michael’s—swords drawn—
Waiting for me to land.