I like walking quietly down long hallways
in tall buildings during business hours.
When everyone is shut away in their offices
or trying to stay awake in lecture halls
looking at powerpoints and projections
I am creeping past doorways without making a sound
catching bits of conversations
portions of solutions
nodding in agreement
I think about pulling fire alarms
and sending everyone out onto the sidewalks
standing in the ante meridiem sunlight
in their nice shoes and trousers
crossing their arms
in business casual button ups
looking at their watches
sigh and roll their eyes
small talk with coworkers
about weekend plans and
heading home for the holidays.
But me, I work odd hours,
putting my hands on people
convincing children to keep breathing
Sliding needles under skin
to puncture veins and gain access
to the network of vasculature
which will receive my metered medications
and reveal its diseased secrets
in collected and labeled vials.
Your body can't hide behind itself
and your blood will tell the stories
your mind has tried to hide.
