Once You Get the Taste by Jennifer Lagier

Camille is sick
of hearing excuses.
Is fed up with pharmacists
who won’t answer their phone
or communicate with her doctor.
Can’t bear the thought
of one more blood test,
mammogram, x-ray.
Is convinced pinot noir
is a better mood stabilizer
than Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac.
Has decided to stop
holding her tongue,
being polite,
putting up with alarmist
endocrinologist bullshit.
Rejects civility
when confronted
with condescending physicians.
Doesn’t care
if she is rude,
disruptive,
hurts some incompetent
phlebotomist’s feelings.
Swears off traditional medicine.
Turns to exercise, natural remedies.
Avoids laboratories, specialists,
outpatient clinics.

Jennifer Lagier has published ten books and in literary magazines. She taught with California Poets in the Schools, co-edits the Homestead Review, helps coordinate monthly Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Second Sunday readings. Forthcoming books: Harbingers (Blue Light Press), Scene of the Crime (Evening Street Press), Camille Abroad (FutureCycle). Website: : : Poetry by Jennifer Lagier : :