Modern Medicine

My doctor today said my blood pressure is a bit high

to which I say how could it not be?

The vine which has been growing from my intestines 

is crushing my chest with a bowline knot around my heart

clogging the well which used to send a river to my dry achy eyes

while thorns and worms wrap round

the hyoglossus of my throat

suppressing my tongue so nothing can escape

no words

and definitely not a scream

definitely not a cry or a shriek or

a shrill sharp edged syllable knife of stabbing pain

where my Adam's apple might have been if life were fair but

definitely not that 

all systems are on lockdown 

my soul even is trapped in this prison.

 so my doctor

with her years of knowledge 

and 

 papers 

she says my blood pressure is up 

as if this is news to me

with no response at all

I wonder at what point the vine will shoot straight up out of my head 

breaking open my honeycomb skull 

and then,

will the pressure be released?

3/3/2022