Hypochondria

my mother passed her hypochondria
quite willingly on to my brother
he willingly accepted

she nurtured every suggested symptom
looking up new diseases
for him to have
in a big red medical textbook

for her own reasons
she forced good health on me

I was to be Caretaker

any time I complained
of an ache or pain
she stopped me
with a quick

"must be syphilis"

until one day
knowing that day
would certainly come

I complained

I waited

She came through
as I knew she would

"must be syphilis"

"yes"
I said
"Congenital"