In The Tubercular Ward

Pancho Lopez, owner of Hidalgo Hall,
couldn’t take it and fled
the tubercular hospital before he was cured.

Mr. Garcia collapsed in the hallway,
Artemio was ten feet behind him
when his old, bald head hit the floor.

The orderlies carried him to his cubicle dead.
Gil came from legendary Rosenberg cotton
to fall in love with Nancy the nurse.

Rod, the male orderly talked like a girl.
Margaret the lunch lady
made wonderful, runny eggs.

Artemio wrote poetry to pass the day,
Artemio wrote poetry to pass the night
until Dr. Frankenstein cut out Artemio’s lungs.