Ten years ago today, my heart went on a short vacation.
\nIt called me in my dream state from a pay phone at a station.
\n"I’m sitting just outside your chest. It’s really quite a view.
\nDon’t worry, get yourself some rest, I’ll be back in a few.
\nAmazing how the world looks when you’re not cooped up in ribs.
\nI seem to be surrounded by a bunch of guys in bibs.
\nI think I’ll have a little work to ease my miseries.
\nI’ll have a valve job and perhaps get four new arteries.
\nI should be home before it’s dark, so please don’t pass away.
\nAnd when I’m back, please promise me, do as the doctors say."
\nA decade since my chest was opened and I’m doing fine.
\nI’d like to thank my bypass team. My heart is yours, not mine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ten years ago today, my heart went on a short vacation. It called me in my dream state from a pay phone at a station. "I’m sitting just outside your chest. It’s really quite a view. Don’t worry, get yourself some rest, I’ll be back in a few. Amazing how the world looks when you’re […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[16],"tags":[3,4],"class_list":["post-794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poem-2","tag-poem","tag-poetry-2"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":672,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=672","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":0},"title":"Gin Rummy Hangover","author":"Rick Young","date":"January 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I knocked when I was holding pairs. I fell once going up the stairs. I had a run but no one cares. The day after cards is annoying, the images burning and cloying. My three on your threes. I'll take that eight, please. The king's on his knees in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poem"","block_context":{"text":"Poem","link":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":702,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=702","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":1},"title":"Partner in Crime","author":"Rick Young","date":"February 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I stalk this region. I'm the rule that runs this game. Like darts of icy wind I whistle through your brain. I drive you to the street with eyes red and insane. You might do anything to loose my ball and chain. And my name is pain. Desperation's my terrain.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poem"","block_context":{"text":"Poem","link":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":975,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=975","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":2},"title":"Conked","author":"Rick Young","date":"November 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I passed out on the avenue, I fell down on the street. I swooned under the sway of every drug dealer I'd meet. I'd smoke whatever came into my hands, from coke to cocoa. I spent much of my formative days just plain goin' loco. There wasn't much I wouldn't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poem"","block_context":{"text":"Poem","link":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":822,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=822","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":3},"title":"Pill Papa","author":"Rick Young","date":"December 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Can you write me a prescription, doc, for some dilaudid, please? I heard it helped with Elvis. I have trouble with my knees. And maybe a few percodans would help me with my head. But if you're running low on those, darvon will do instead. Of course I'll need some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poem"","block_context":{"text":"Poem","link":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":677,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=677","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":4},"title":"Quintuplet Bypass","author":"Rick Young","date":"January 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Whatever you do, don't go near the quints. They'll pluck your eyes and grind them into mince. Born to evil and grown madder since, their very presence makes one want to wince. It's just as if the devil split in fives. Those who near them soon break out in hives.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poem"","block_context":{"text":"Poem","link":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":626,"url":"https:\/\/redtinnoodles.com\/?p=626","url_meta":{"origin":794,"position":5},"title":"Diablo Dog","author":"Rick Young","date":"December 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"A Spanish pup escaped the pound and headed toward the border. He happened on a frankfurt stand and dared put in an order. \"I'll have a weiner. Make it hot. I'll need ketchup and relish.\" They threw his tail into a pot. 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