Informed Consent

A brilliant cocktail party

Somewhere

In the Afterlife

Ran into an old patient

Who remembered me well

Tho’ I can’t for life of me…

“A few years ago,” said he, insistently

(600 a year—hard to recall ‘em all)

“You remember my thigh fracture…”

He tried to refresh my memory,

(The words were familiar

I’ve oft uttered them)

“Typically…

In my experience…

Chances…”

Chances of Life—

Like the one I continued to live

“You told me odds were in my favor

Better than 9 outta ten…

Safer than driving a car

But I never died driving a car.

I skied no more, that’s the least of it

My kids grew up without a father

While you had a great life.

Nice to see you again.”