stethoscope by Shaun Loh (17, Singapore)

Flamingo coral necks, svelte and tensiled. 
Pink earpieces a salubrious pair of 
stethoscopes oscillating between the 
dense air and my chest. My palpitations 
reverberate the tunes unerringly; 
they rewind like a boomerang, always 
mellowed into docile decrescendos.

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Analeptic songs on my myringa 
administer. How could a doctor heal 
himself through the sterile metal meant for 
his patients? Hippocrates declines to 
comment. Stress clogs my flaring arteries. 
Suspiration saturates every sigh. 
But my pink earpieces don’t espy. They cure. 

It’s an intricate walk down A and Es, 
pacing myself through the infirm keys. Palms 
slapping my pockets slower and slower, 
augmenting piano thumps ambient measure. 
In the tepid vanilla walls I glimpse 
gulls flitting in carte blanche, disinfected. 
I’ve found my way round my emergency.

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