GaryLehmann

Doctor's Statement

"There are relatively few side-effects associated with this progress of
treatments,"

the doctor explained, speaking ex-cathedra

from the swivelly throne of his consulting room.

"That's alright," replied Mrs. Murphy, knowing, as he could not,

that her life wasn't worth much now that her husband had died

and her children had all gone off

to establish lives of their own in far away places.

They sent flowers on Mother's Day still.

That's something.

The doctor had his secrets as well.

He knew that given the rest of her profile,

she was precisely the sort of person

who would likely have trouble with these treatments

and that her prognosis was not good.

50/50 she'd be dead by Christmas,

but why tell her that?

in these days when talk is the only placebo

left in the doctor's arsenal.

The Battle at Snake Hill

In 1814, an American detachment of soldiers

camped out on high ground to watch for the British

several miles west of Buffalo.

The Brits were poised to defend the Niagara frontier.

The place was clearly marked "Snake Hill" on the map,

but the American commander was thinking strategically

when he ordered his men to pitch their camp.

Soldiers began to complain, but the commander ignored them.

The next morning seven rattlers were killed on the parade ground,

two rolled out of a soldier's bedding,

and another was burned in the fire by an angry cook.

Several men's boots were attacked, but they were not bitten.

The battle continued for several days

before the American commander ordered the camp to retreat

to save what remained of his men from rattlesnakes.

They did not know they were fighting for their King.

Gary Lehmann teaches writing and poetry at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His essays, poetry and short stories are widely published --about 60 pieces a year. He is the director of the Athenaeum Poetry group which recently published its second chapbook, Poetic Visions. He is also author of a book of poetry entitled Public Lives and Private Secrets [Foothills Press, 2005], and co-author and editor of a book of poetry
entitled The Span I Will Cross. His poem "Reporting from Fallujah" was nominated for the 2006 Pushcart Prize. His short play, "My Health Care Worker Stole My Jewelry" was selected for professional production in January 2006 at Geva Theatre, Rochester, NY. Visit his website at www.garylehmann.blogspot.com

Gary Lehmann's poetry can be read in