I hadn’t seen a doctor in two years.
I know I’m wearing old and should be screened,
but mine retired. I was in arrears
two months before the virus intervened.

I found a new practitioner and went
last week to meet and check my body out.
We both wore masks and I stayed clothed. We spent
our scheduled time and I’ll go back, no doubt.

But I have processed what was said since then.
She didn’t fail. Her words did not appall.
But though I plan to see the doc again,
she relegated me to protocol,
prescribing tests from which we will not learn,
and not attending (yet) to my concern.