Pantoum From a Line by Pablo

Psychiatric Times

November 2005

Vol. XXIII

Issue 13

It was a headlong act of love

when I kissed her. She was gone.

No one could have saved her.

The dialyzer hummed a little love song.

The way I kissed her (she was gone)

was a reflex, a hand to break my fall.

The dialyzer hummed a little love song.

No one saw us, the curtains were drawn.

It was a reflex, a hand to break my fall.

My mouth was on her lips!

No one saw us, the curtains were drawn.

I'm a man who doesn't take risks.

My mouth was on her lips!

I closed my eyes, but not for long.

I'm a man who doesn't take risks.

The corridor was quiet, it was close to dawn.

I closed my eyes, but not for long.

Her lips on mine felt soft and warm.

The corridor was quiet, it was close to dawn.

She was dead, but I sang her a song.

Her lips on mine felt soft and warm.

No one could have saved her.

She was dead. I sang her a song--

It was a headlong act of love.

Dr. Berlinis associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Berlin recently establishedthe Gerald F. Berlin Creative Writing Award at the University of MassachusettsMedical School, the only medical student creative writing prize in the UnitedStates.