Michael Ceraolo is a 65-year-old retired firefighter/paramedic and active poet who has had two full-length books (Euclid Creek, from Deep Cleveland Press).

Paired monologues by James Garfield and Charles Guiteau

This is a selection of 5 days from the full 80 of the piece.

August 23, 1881

Garfield:

With the vomiting
and the not eating any more,
I am wasting away
I heard the staff say my weight
is down to 130 lbs.
No more handsprings for me for awhile

Guiteau:

In my life
I have not always eaten regularly

But here in jail,
with a guaranteed three squares,
I have gained more than ten pounds already

August 24, 1881

Garfield:

"I want to get away"
from the heat of the Washington summer
The doctors will consider my request

Guiteau:

"If I cannot get notoriety for good"
"I will get it for evil"

August 25, 1881

Garfield:

I asked Crete's doctor, Susan Edson,
who has been serving me as a nurse,
to read me the news today
She said things were dull,
and there was nothing in the papers
that would be of any interest tome
I am not sure I believe her,
but I don't have the energy
to press the matter today

Guiteau:

I like it when the jailers
read me news from the outside world

August 30, 1881

Garfield:

The doctors made yet another incision
to facilitate the pus drainage
I have found "the worst days of darkness
through which I have ever passed
have been greatly alleviated
by throwing myself with all my energy
into some work relating to others"

I want to heal enough to do that

Guiteau:

I am subject to swings of my mind,
which sometimes cannot be explained,
and about which nothing can be done

August 31, 1881

Garfield:

Today the bulletin on my condition
consists solely of negatives:
no incisions,
no insertions,
no retaining,
no draining

I remain hopeful
that no news is good news

Guiteau:

I asked the jailers today
if the newspapers talked about me,
and they said there had been no bulletins
about me for several days