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Nina Rubinstein Alonso is the publisher of the acclaimed literary magazine Constellations. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Ibbetson Street, and elsewhere. She is a longtime member of the literary group The Bagel Bards.

Side Effects

Nina Rubinstein Alonso

Smiling ads say these pills may help
what hurts though small print warns
you might feel jittery sleepy faint
nauseated have blurred vision
heart burn muscle spasms
joint strain or depression
episodes of vomiting or
seizure even swollen arms and legs
dry mouth itchy skin diarrhea
shortness of breath as medications
may have side effects even
emotional impacts like
bipolar depression or weakness
with uncontrollable movements
or suicidal tendencies but the ads
show kids bouncing on the beach
adults relaxing in the sun while subtitles
whisper it’s unpredictable how a drug
may affect you as each person is
biochemically unique so Big Pharma
keeps peddling wares knowing that
people in pain will try anything
dodge fears that the drug may be
the edge of death can’t deliver
la vida sueňo beyond suffering
that cosmic realm where peaceful
skies float cloudless blue.

— Nina Rubinstein Alonso

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dougholder@post.harvard.edu