The Diagnosis
Marc Berman


Think 1000 gallons
of bourbon.
The good Kentucky stuff,
enough to swim laps,
but, instead,
8000 pints ingested
over 8000 days.

It has taken that much
to jaundice your eyes,
make skin itchy,
put you to sleep
for 10 hours straight,
then 3 more
in the middle of the day.

If your mother were alive
all she would see
is a small boy
pink faced
passed out
in the back
of a car.

She would go
to her kitchen
and humming cheerfully,
make those deviled eggs
that always stopped your crying,
a treat and surprise
for when you finally wake.