The year after we got married I discovered I had inguinal hernia in my groin. Since I was teaching school at the time, I decided to have surgery on my Christmas break. This was the first time I ever was in the hospital or had surgery. Fortunately. all went well and I was back on the job soon after Christmas. One twist I discovered as I entered the operating room was the attending nurse was a friend of ours. It was a little awkward, but I was not awake long enough to worry. I wrote this poem to share my experience.
Hernia Cut
Anxiety floods my mind
Razor cuts close removing hair
Held by hands other than my own
Doctor assures it will be a smooth operation
Tightened up and tucked back in
Tossing and turning deliberate sleep
Morning shines in breakfast denied
Roller coaster ride in hall and elevator
Meat wagon bumps open O.R. doors
Everyone dressed in white
But I am not in heaven
Sliding onto the cutting board
Only a half apron to cover
IV running wired up and monitored
I know the nurse with the needle
A friend to help me sleep
Gas without octane
Count….ten …nine… eight…seeeveeeeen…
Lights out
Total faith all will be well
Apron removed I’m painted up
Bald skin bulging in the light
Wonder what she thought
Body in lifeless slumber
Scalpel cuts blood oozes
Muscle stitched tight
Closed with not too fancy stitching
Back to the wagon and withdrawal
Noisy nurses talking way too loud
“Wake up it’s time to wake up!”
“Breathe deeply Take a deep breathe”
I open my eyes
I’m back
Didn’t feel a thing
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Photo: Dwight L Roth
This makes 200 posts since I started in June, blogging a post a day !
Roth Poetry 