Post-Cancer

M.E.M.

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 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
  • Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek
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Comments +

Comments4

  • David Wakeling

    I can't read this because there are words missing. Its good that you don't have cancer.

    • M.E.M.

      Could you tell me where the missing words occur?

    • David Wakeling

      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.

      • M.E.M.

        Nooo. No words are missing. That’s how I wrote it.

      • L. B. Mek

        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

        • M.E.M.

          Thank you so much!

        • Myth

          Sorry I found no words to add ..
          It's a new dawn .. new birth
          I'm happy for you..



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