Chen-ou Liu
Nothing Less Real Than Reality
In the dimly lit hallway, a double-shift nurse speaks to a colleague in a faltering voice, “My patients are saying there must be another reason they are sick. They ask why I have to wear all this weird ‘protective stuff.’ Some of them get frustrated with my answers—they even call me names. Then they become worse and have to be intubated.”
more red dots
added to the heat map . . .
it's not real
another patient's voice
scarcely above a whisper
About the Author
Chen-ou Liu is the author of two award-winning books, and his tanka and haiku have been honored with many awards. To see his work, visit his Poetry in the Moment blog.