<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><font size="5">The Gasp House <br><br>This being human is a gasp house.<br><br>Every morning<br>a new crook in the back<br>a cough, a creak, a weariness,<br>some momentary spasm comes right up your sassafras<br><br>Be grateful for whoever comes,<br>the dark spots, the bath attendant , the (un)social worker,<br>meet them at the door laughing,<br>and invite them in.<br><br>Be grateful for whoever comes,<br>as a guide from the med room beyond <br><br>Imagine your walker just might finally collapse and you secretly grin at the unexpected visitors<br>who will be soon getting drunk<br>at your splendid funeral. <br><br>Welcome and entertain them all!<br><br>Even if they’re a crowd<br>of old codgers still bragging<br>of their youthful prowess <br>who will rip up your garden<br>looking for the buried jars of loot<br><br>Still, treat old people honorably<br>they may be calling you out<br>for some new yet<br>unintended slight.<br><br>It’s likely you’re stuck here<br>because in reality,<br>no one you know<br>Can still drive a car. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Rhuemi<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(Aka Kristy Hellum)</font></div></div></body></html>