1:30 PM
The pull of the tourniquet around bicep
as fingernails dig into skin, forming a fist.
Please let it only be one poke.
The prick of the needle,
and sucking air through teeth.
Blood flows into the tubes.
One after another after another.
A slow methodical drip
as blood fills the last of 6 tubes.
Done in a blink!
Gauze to skin
wrapped in elastic adhesive bandaging.
Off for weight, temp, and BP.
The wait.
The long wait
in the waiting room
for the call of my name.
Nurse
Nurse practitioner
Doctor.
I know it’s gone,
All gone, but still.
Those words.
“…No trace of Leukemia…”
I might cry.
I will cry,
in my sleep tonight,
Because of those words.
I am okay.
I’m back to normal.
My new normal,
having lived through
and fought Cancer’s ass!
-
Author:
M.E.M. (
Offline) - Published: March 9th, 2023 15:19
- Comment from author about the poem: Tuesday I had my first oncology appt cancer free (I found out I was cancer free a while back but this was my first check-up appt). Comments are welcome. Created: 3/7/23
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- User favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek.
Offline)
Comments4
I can't read this because there are words missing. Its good that you don't have cancer.
Could you tell me where the missing words occur?
There is a pull of the tourniquet around my bicep
as my fingernails dig into my skin, forming a fist.
Please let it only be one poke.
At the prick of the needle, I am sucking air through my teeth.
Nooo. No words are missing. That’s how I wrote it.
So happy for you, dear Poet
thanks for sharing your great news
'The wait.
The long wait
in the waiting room'
made it so vivid, so well written
Thank you so much!
Sorry I found no words to add ..
It's a new dawn .. new birth
I'm happy for you..
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.