Willie's parents
were never around
and he was left alone
to have his high fever
all by himself
and allowed to walk
up and down
the buildings
with a head as hot
as toast
while I not permitted
to do a thing
if my thermometer
read above the normal
laid in bed
served like a king
and ordering
my mother and my grandmother
what to bring-
Willy grew strong
his muscles wiry
while I shuffled
along with a belly-ache