Cardio-Bedroom

In the vertical push up position

My hand finds your point of maximal impulse

As it strikes your chest wall with violence

At the fifth intercostal space

I am counting your ribs

My finger tips migrate over

To the mid-clavicular line

To feel that apex spot beat

You have a big heart

The pulse travels gravely to the left

Revealing you carry a high blood pressure

And an overworked heart

With my one hand still on your apex

The fingers of my other hand

Find the pulse in your brachial

radial and femoral arteries.

In the forty-five degree angle

While you rest on your elbows

My mouth finds your carotid pulse

That beats in rhythm with your heart

With my hand still on your hearts apex

I lick your jugular and know

That the pulsating duo of that vein

beats twice for every carotid pulse

As your heart contracts and relaxes

one hundred and ten times per minute

A good pulse for the work load.

[I most certainly did count]