Orange leaves
Decorate
The door mat

In a pint of beer
Bubbles have a merry time
At a foam party

Faster than
a flash in a pan
I’m tossed in a can
the discarded man
who made spectacular plans.

Plans that spanned
beyond human command,

a hopeful hearted poet
alone, sinking in quicksand
the sweet gentleman,

a noble sacrifice of convenience
because my momentum
was already carrying me there.

So, in caring I shared
sweet smiles and jokes
all my thoughts and my hopes
to help you all cope
while I go boldly on into
that last dark night
you were all dreading.

So when I die
do not let our nation’s
flag fly high
a symbol of separating humans
by maps and accidental locations,
don’t sound soldiers glory with rifles

Point your pens
to the heavens
where dreams of space begin
send me into oblivion
with love
and hopes for exploration
and in my name
write a better
kinder world
then the one
I am leaving.

A trip to the dermatologist
Please check out this sore on my lip
And the one above it.
Yes, think I need to do biopsies of those.
Phone call-you have a basal cell carcinoma
And a squamous cell carcinoma.
We'll need to remove those and send you to the Plastic Surgeon.
That's a little concerning.  
I will tell a few friends and relatives
About my condition, but no big overall announcement.
One month later
Wake up at 4:30 am to eat breakfast
It will be a long day.
Take the dog to the neighbor for the day,
Leave for first hospital with Husband
Driving My Car!!! Scariest part of the day!
Check in to the Dermatologist
Numbing hurting needles to my lips and face,
Tissue cut away, searing hot cauterization.
To the waiting area and another cutting away of my lower lip.
Back to the waiting area. Four hours after our arrival
We are out the door, through the corridors to the parking garage
Back on the interstate to the second hospital.
Check in, ride the elevator and frighten a 5 year old boy with my
Face bandages-they were pretty frightening to me.
To the staging area to dress in a gown, have i.v. attached,
Anesthesiologist, Doctor, Nurses, and finally I start to go under.
Wake up with new bandages, ride home via drugstore and grocery-
12 hours later.  Study prescriptions and instructions.  Made it through the first night and hopefully to full recovery.
Warning-wear a hat, use sunscreen on skin and lips.                              Hope you will never have to take this trip.