The Absence of Wavelength

Blood Panels Pending

Dry Vampire

When she drove the needle into the small vein
faintly blue
above the elbow of my left arm,
I watched
but couldn't feel it.
Nor did I sense five vials of blood
withdrawn from me.
Not a hint of that metal tip
sliding right back out
across my very pliant skin
where she applied cotton
my arriving fingers
knew to depress
to pressure a wound
quick wrapped tight
with gauze colored to disguise
its appearance on my flesh.

At home, I pulled
and unrolled the tourniquet
to reveal a small
stubborn scab of skin
stuck to the white barrier
devoid of blood.

I feel like a vampire
dry
in need of a fill up.