keys
i’m sitting in a
treatment team meeting
listening to a
floridly psychotic patient
speak absolute nonsense
and watch him
shake from the years of
thorazine
restraints
and self-abuse
and as he rambles on
laughing to himself
i begin to wonder
what separates
him from me
and me from him
i only figured it out
after he reaches
under my chair
picks up my fallen keys
and places them
in my hand
About the Author:
Tohm Bakelas is a social worker in a psychiatric hospital. He was born in New Jersey, resides there, and will die there. His poems have appeared in numerous journals, zines, and online publications. He is the author of several chapbooks and a full length book of poetry. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and he intends to conquer the small press and exclusively publish within. More at https://tohmbakelaspoetry.wordpress.com or Instagram: @flexyourhead
