maestro
His thin crippled hand
conducts orchestra music
from an FM radio station
too loud for the room,
too quiet to drown sounds
of the mechanical pump,
beeps of his heart monitor
and sobs from his audience.
Carl “Papa” Palmer of Old Mill Road in Ridgeway, Virginia, lives in University Place, Washington. He is retired from the military and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enjoying life now as “Papa” to his grand descendants and being a Franciscan Hospice volunteer. Carl is a Pushcart Prize and Micro Award nominee. MOTTO: Long Weekends Forever!
Heart of Flesh Literary Journal 