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Esophageal Varices
Cheyenne Mann
Esophageal Varices1
Defn (Medical Terminology)
(Noun.)
[Abnormally enlarged veins at the base of the throat,
due to blockage of blood flow from liver damage.]
(Example:)
An almost-rotting fish corpse sleeps opened-eyed on the sidewalk. Lidless optic nerves all
Opalescent and dull. He slows the atomic movement of his organic matter.
The carbon of him breaking down, even though the skin does not. He looks nearly the same dead
As he did alive. He says to me, “Death is like
Wintergreen toothpaste. Like all the windows in my skin have become unlatched.
How did it feel to love?” And I say back,
“Like someone shot me in the throat and the wound grew teeth and lips and a tongue and
Hasn’t stopped screaming since.”
1Can be fatal in up to 50% of patients.
Cheyenne Mann is a third year student studying chemistry and creative writing at the University of Iowa. They are likely asleep at this very moment.
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