Group Therapy

James tells the story of how

A man picked him up hitching

And became his friend,

A man with a farm,

A tree-removal business,

Peacocks, a bearded dragon,

Horses, and a wood chipper

In central New Mexico.

James worked for that man a month.

Now he's homeless, but he hopes.

If he can just make it through,

He can get back to that ranch.

Ed tells the story of how,

One time down in the coal mine,

He had just finished his lunch

And had stood up from the bench

To walk across the mine floor

When the chamber behind him

Collapsed and the wave of air

Alone knocked him flat.

He's unemployed, but he hopes

That when he gets out of here

He can go back to being

A mine-safety inspector.

Kris tells the story of how

She fell in love with playing

Native American flute

And eventually taught it

As a spiritual subject

At the extension college.

Now she deals with macular

Degeneration and fears

Blindness will end her teaching.

But she hopes, when she gets out,

She'll still find a way to play.

The social worker thanks her,

And we, the society

Of those who survived trying

To die, nod encouragement.