Bagel Bard Marvin Goode is a retired physician. He sent me this poem recounting his days as a young doctor.

*

TRAVELERS

They come by foot, by car, by ambulance,

drunk or sober, asleep, awake, worried,

suicidal, delirious, handcuffed. They speak

five languages and say the same thing.

I asked a young cook how he came here —

It’s easy, you come by plane and don’t leave.

A son and pregnant wife broke down in Texas.

Can’t take a bus, they look for aliens there.

They bring their viruses, their fevered children,

cuts and broken bones. They’re out of breath,

miss family at home. I listen, they leave.

Most get better on their own.

– Marvin Goode

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