Dana Hirsch

GOT HIM

The pain is a lion after him.
Run.
The darkness grabs harder and harder.
Run.
The pain is a lion after him.
Run.
Get the pills.
The pain is a lion after him.
It will catch him
Promising knives of fire
To his fingernails and hands
To his entire being.
He can't run.
Got him.

Dana Hirsch is a native Philadelphian with cerebral palsy and one of the editors of Wordgathering. She has been writing poetry and short stories since 1974, and recently has turned to computer art. Her poetry has appeared in The Philadelphia Tribune, Mad Poets Review and other publications. .