One passing wasp

By Douglas J. Lanzo

Based on the account of a close friend

He stood atop a hill
he had been climbing
when he felt chest pain
and panted just to breathe,
staring blankly ahead,
unsure of whether 
these were his last moments…

A rabbit hopped closer —
gazing up at his eyes,
as its nose crinkled,
sensing something was wrong.

Time seemed to slow and stretch,
as if he could see
each thought across his mind,
approaching final sleep…  

How ludicrous, he thought,
that my eyes lie locked
with one of my yard’s
dumbest woodland creatures.
Just as he was about
to succumb to fate,
a wasp alighted
on his arm, and stung him.

Suddenly awakened,
realizing he still
remained alive, with pain
pulsing through his body,
he stumbled to his steps,
and made the wisest call.
ER doctors told him
several hours later 
that an embolism 
had traveled near his heart - 
one bubble burst away
from claiming his life,
and likely would have,
had he gone untreated,
standing in a trance — 
staring at a hare —
until one wasp,
by happenstance, providence or fate…
did fly his way.

An award-winning poet and novelist, over 440 of Doug’s poems have found homes in 69 literary journals and 8 anthologies across the US, Canada, Caribbean, England, Wales, Austria, Mauritius, India, Japan and Australia.  Doug’s debut novel, The Year of the Bear, was named Ames 2023 Best YA Book of the Year while his second book, I Have Lived, was recently named Best Novella of 2024 at the 21st Annual American Book Fest Awards.  He and his wife, twin son poets, cat, pufferfish and hermit crabs reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and all but the pets enjoy nature, fishing, tennis, snorkeling and hiking.  His Author’s website is at www.douglaslanzo.com.