Poem 17 ± November 17, 2018

Davidson Garrett
The 1980s HIV Blood Test

I had to make an appointment
to see my primary care physician,
signing several confidential forms
on the day the blood was drawn.
After the red juice slowly trickled
into a test tube, the waiting began
with ten days of sleepless anxiety.
My mind began playing games
conjuring the worst case scenario.
Will I be positive or negative?
Finally, the call from the friendly
receptionist: “Your test results
just arrived.” I asked to be alerted
with the fateful information.
“Sorry―you have to come back,
we can’t disclose anything
over the telephone.” Another
visit confirmed for a week later.
At last, I’m sitting face to face
before the white-coated doctor
to hear news that may or may not
alter my life. Shuffling papers
he says: “You are……………”

 

 

Davidson Garrett lives in Manhattan and drove a yellow taxi for forty years to help subsidize his artistic pursuits. A member of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA, he recently curated the 11th Annual Boog City Poets Theater in the East Village. Davidson is the author of the poetry collection, King Lear of the Taxi (2006, Advent Purple Press), and the chapbook, To Tell The Truth I Wanted to be Kitty Carlisle and Other Poems (Finishing Line Press, 2013). In 2017, his spoken word play, Conspiracy Theory: The Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen, was performed for the Boog City Poetry, Theater, and Music Festival after earlier being published in the performance arts journal, Nerve Lantern. More info at davidsongarrett.com.

SUBMIT to the HIV Here & Now project via our SUBMITTABLE site.

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