Suzy Zeus Gets Organized Read Online Free PDF Page B

eighty-one.
    Suzy doesn't feel like moving.
    There's no outlets in the wall.
    SUZY CONFINED
     
    Group is where they welcome Charlie.
    Hair like wire, eyes like plates.
    Calls himself a whirling dervish.
    Says he's full of altered states.
    Into Suzy's room at midnight
    Charlie sneaks to read her Yeats.
    Charlie's hushed and too excited.
    Charlie's voice is moist and deep.
    Charlie has a pair of glasses
    like the headlights of a jeep.
    Suzy wants to say good night now.
    Suzy wants to go to sleep.
    Love has built a castle somewhere.
    Words come faster, lower, more.
    Charlie speaks of Jove and Jesus,
    heaven as "the farther shore."
    Charlie brings up tears of joy and,
    sobbing, rolls around the floor.
    SUZY CONNECTS
     
    Suzy Zeus got off the unit.
    Said she needed space to pray.
    In the chapel, Suzy read where
    Jesus said "I'm in the way."
    Then the priest arrived and blessed them.
    Had them all sing "Day by Day."
    Suzy feels a little better.
    Suzy feels a little worse.
    Suzy picks a favorite doctor.
    Jim is Suzy's favorite nurse.
    Jim thought church was really boring.
    "Day by Day" has just one verse.
    SUZY CONVALESCES
     
    Every day she gets a menu—
    dried-up pork, or dried-up steak?
    Usually she asks for chicken.
    Usually it's Shake 'n Bake.
    Jim starts saving Suzy Jell-O,
    squares of crumble, squares of cake.
    Suzy's told to draw a picture:
    "My Imagination Land."
    Suzy has to sway in rhythm,
    dance a color on demand.
    Suzy bumps and grinds as purple.
    Suzy draws a sun, and sand.
    Jim says can he have the picture.
    When she's discharged. Don't forget.
    Jim says why's the beach towel empty.
    Suzy hasn't got there yet.
    Jim is into gene pools. Jim is
    into genealogy.
    Says that he's half Irish, which is
    good to know, and good to be.
    Says that Zeus is Greek, and that's the
    reason Suzy loves the sea.
    Suzy gets a pen from Jim. Draws
    in a tiny ballpoint jet.

CHAPTER 9
Astroland
     

There's a loose in your walk
    and a long in your bones
    There's a scratch in your laugh
    I' d like to own — own — own — own — own —
    Donnez-moi your secretest secret
    Donnez-moi your privatest part
    Donnez-moi a new way of wishing
    and I'll donnez-vous a place in my heart
    There's a look in your smile
    And the crook of your knee
    There's a book on your bed
    I' d like to be — be — be — be — be —
    Donnez-moi a lick and a promise
    Donnez-moi an umbrella you stole
    Donnez-moi a new way of wishing
    and I'll donnez-vous a place in my soul
    Donnez-moi your silliest story
    Donnez-moi your sharpest knife
    Donnez-moi a new way of wishing
    and I'll donnez-vous a place in my life
    SUZY GETS OUT
     
    Suzy's told to keep appointments.
    Suzy's told, "Depression kills."
    Suzy's told to keep good records.
    Suzy's told to take her pills.
    Suzy leaves the patient kitchen
    with its plastic daffodils.
    Jim has done some extra reading.
    Zeus, he tells her, might be Dutch.
    Zeus says thanks for care and feeding.
    Jim says meds are not a crutch.
    Jim tells Suzy keep on truckin'.
    Jim tells Suzy keep in touch.
    Suzy's tired in the taxi.
    Suzy thinks about her bed.
    Lithium's a heavy metal.
    Suzy's arms and legs are lead.
    SUZY GETS HOME
     
    Sitting on the bathtub's edge. She's
    here. She's her. She's back. She's out.
    Fingering the splitting caulk, the
    bathtub ring, the dirty grout.
    Suzy's broken like a teapot—
    cracked and glued but lost its spout.
    Suzy wipes the messed-up mirror.
    There she is: a second Eve.
    Maybe just a little smarter.
    Wonders what she might achieve.
    Wonders if she has more bath salts.
    Wonders, what does she believe?
    Blessed is she if she's crying?
    Blessed is she if she's poor?
    Blessed if she's hungry? Like her
    floating soap, she's not quite pure.
    Healing doesn't sound so finished.
    God should grant an all-out cure.
    Thank the Lord there's more hot water.
    And her toes. She has all ten.
    Suzy uses purple polish.
    Has since grade school. Way back then.
    Thinks about the Crucifixion
    and the cruelty of men.
    SUZY