4 North Poem by Thomas Case

It's One a.m. in the psych ward.
Let's just call it 4 North.
On the table that I'm writing at is a plant,
it looks to be a member of the cactus family.
Three nurses sit behind a glass booth,
and watch me with curiosity.
One of them looks to be a member of the
cactus family—or is it cacti?
Either way, I don't want her close to me.
Just now, one of the cacti-looking nurses says,
'What are you writing? '
I say, 'My escape plan, ' without looking up.
She says,
'Very interesting.'
That's one thing I've noticed in the
psych ward, everything is very interesting.
Just once, I wish they would say,
'That is the most boring load of
shit I've ever heard.'
Then, maybe I'd be less inclined
to think they resemble members of the plant life.