In the morning <br />at Spinoza high school <br />Tom Harris ate chalk <br />champing merrily <br />wouldn’t stop <br />until EMS <br />came <br />and carted him away <br />to the G Building <br />of Kings County Hospital <br />as UFT Chapter Leader <br />I hadda defend the guy <br />cause this wasn’t the first <br />time he did crazy things <br />one day <br />brought six African bullfrogs <br />to school <br />and set ‘em loose in class <br />laughed like it was <br />the joke of the century. <br />Tom Tartt the Principal <br />wanted him out <br />argued with him <br />for an hour <br />“Next time, Bernstein, <br />you’re sitting in his class <br />the rest of the term.” <br />At Kings County Tom lay in bed <br />strapped down <br />at least <br />not in a straight jacket <br />like before. <br />“Bernstein, <br />you old flubbergaster <br />save me again? ” <br />I stared at the man <br />hair flying every which way <br />teeth a dark brown <br />from endless cigarettes <br />left ear today seeming <br />lower than the right <br />suddenly a tiny doctor <br />came in <br />from India possibly <br />Sri Lanka <br />‘How do you feel? ” he asked <br />in a clipped British accent. <br />Tom stared blankly at the man <br />who promptly punctured his skin <br />with a rather long needle <br /> <br /> <br />then took my arm <br />escorting me into the hall <br /> “A Friend? ” he asked. <br />“Work with him but <br />he’s been here before <br />can you help the man? ” <br />“Sir, I am presently responsible <br />for eighteen immense <br />and difficult Wards <br />possessing 182 patients.” <br />I took that to mean <br />Frank would now sleep <br />and when he woke <br />still be <br />profoundly unhappy.<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/besieged/
