The doctor keeps telling me:
‘Go out. Get some fresh air.
Talk to people.'
I tried to tell him
I have no friends,
they’re all dead.
He doesn’t listen.
I tried to tell him
it’s hard for me to go outside.
He doesn’t listen.
I get tired quickly
walking with the walker.
Sometimes I trip
and almost fall
on the uneven sidewalk.
I take a long time
to cross the street,
the light always changes
from red to green
before I reach the other side.
I’m always afraid
a car will hit me.
I only shuffle a few blocks,
then make my way home
shakily, scared, exhausted.
I tried to tell the doctor
but he won’t listen
and I can’t afford another doctor.
Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger, and a salvage diver. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes, and Sophocles have been produced Off-Broadway. His poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and his published books include 35 poetry collections, 14 novels, 3 short story collections, 1 collection of essays, and 7 books of plays. Gary lives in New York City.