Jim Keller Verse-Virtual 2016 May

May 2016

I'm a chemical engineer who recently retired and now have more time to read and write poetry. Over the last twenty or so years, I've been involved with a group of local poets that try to meet monthly; one of them suggested I join your site. I haven't really attempted to submit much work over the years. Some of my poems were last published about ten years ago in Mad Blood, an excellent little magazine, that like so many expired after a run of 7 or 8 years.

Zeus as Oncologist

So how do you feel today Prometheus?
Is the pain any better?
The MRI showed additional necrosis of your liver
I expected that the dosage of Theodicy
That I prescribed would have more efficacy.
But I see here on your chart that
you have been refusing to take it
In your condition it’s silly to worry
about the side effects
And the cost is covered by your HMO
Besides it is the strongest drug we have for
Aetos Kaukasios, your type of cancer
You have only yourself to blame for
how badly things are going for you

Prometheus Bringer of Fire — photograph by Kaiyan Paguyo