He’s on the early shift, every other day
Just him, the dialysis machine ,
And a yawning technician
He walks out
Of of his apartment before
Five in the morning, and starts
Whistling, the notes carrying
Down the still street.
He looks to the blinking intersection,
His ride is minutes off.
He whistles… has for five years,
Going on six ….
Sluggish kidneys, yearning so to die
Hooked into the machinery
Working night, working day
Tireless, dispassionate-
Early and late ….
The man is not tireless but
More and more the man and machine
Are of one mind
