Poet Eyed By Four Psychiatrists

Carol’s Poetry Cavern
March 27, 2022

Poet Eyed by Four Psychiatrists

I can hear their eyes probe inside. They have fingers in their eyes that move very fast. They are quicker than me. When they stare at me, I feel their giant thumbs inside my mind. When one doctor speaks, all four move their tongues. They have a list of questions. They have not given me the questions. They type notes about me. I cannot see their notes. I do my best to answer the questions I cannot see. Sometimes I forget my words. Then I forget their questions. We start over. They wait for me to finish before asking me the next question. This is how they hear my story. Which becomes their story. The one I will hear from my doctor after she has heard it from them. I close my eyes and stare back across the room. I open my hand until it closes. I hold their fingers in my hands. I tell them I want to start over.

And I slowly read them this poem.