Walking cane
To chase butterflies
Another lifetime

Battlefield
Attack invaders
Self falls too

Dependence
Golden years awry
Pale sunset

Photograph by Aarti Surti

Immunity
Politics, religion
Self

Summer nap
Sunshine on your face
The same wish.

Waiting scared
Science from the doctor’s lips
No warning

Prognosis
Too young to know that
Life is different

Secret Snack
Friend or Enemy
Ambivalence

Other kids wonder
His mystery box
Is that a pager?

Runs, jumps, plays
Laughs like every other boy
Sick child?