something for the pain

when we hurt
we take

a pill or pills
a vacation
stock

we are urged to ask our doctors if such&such is right for us
seconds after being told that with such&such death due to younameit has happened

when we hurt we don’t want to hurt anymore
so the child in us looks for something to make it go away
though the adult in us knows that the smiling relieved people on the tv
are carefully chosen actors
well compensated for their false testimony

of course now and then we get a caption: “actual patient”
but i never met a person who  wasn’t one

i hurt
so i’m taking a moment
to stack up these distractive musings
side effects include mild repetitive motion syndrome
blankeyed stares due to wondering what’s real have happened

to see if these words are right for you
ask your midbrain