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Robin Bennett (December 25th / New Orleans, La USA)
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Cancer
How I remember the waiting room,
at my Daddy's oncologist's office-
If being eaten alive by cancer isn't enough-
The waiting room is full of old boring, dated
magazines in stages of disarray.
It smells like chemicals and fear,
and it looks deadly real.
Ugly pictures of a fisherman caught
in a raging nor' easter. Truly not a
well thought out metaphor, if I do
say so myself. The anti-cancer drugs
make the pale and weak thirsty,
not a water cooler in sight.
Daddy, how can you trust this
man with your life?
He's a supreme failure in keeping
his waiting room off life support.
You could easily give up
and die in this office.
It sucks the dim light from
your cancer ridden
bones, while you read
about Brad and Jen's
divorce from what
is now your past life.
The one before cancer.
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A serious subject with pinch of irony a good read.
What a deep and vivid dose of reality. Your writing is tremendously clear and fully human. Such beauty of words, in such sadness. Excellent poem!
Robin, First of all, I feel sorry for the daddy. Second of all I may not agree with your comparison, comparing an oncologists to his not well kept lobby. The patients are like the old magazines, torn, stained and have no mood to take and read any books and the Oncologists might have wanted to remind the care takers symbolically. As long as the patients are cleared of cancerous cells, thank the doctors and take care of your loved ones with not much fuss.
They say don't eat in a restaurant with a filthy bathroom.
How much more true with a doctor's office.
Well written, keenly observed especially the part
about the magazines that were offered as solace
for the inconsolable.
This is a really great poem, well observed, well written, I have seldom read such good work on sites like this.
Going through this at the present time with my husband, except I have to say that the services have so far been excellent so no complaints. Sorry your experience was less than how it should have been. Well written poem.33262
The reality of this breaks my heart. People fighting for their lives deserve so much more respect and basic needs
met. You paint a vivid picture because of your way with words. Like looking through the lens of a camera. Painful
To read but very enlightening. Thank you for this
Lynn Stillman
Chilling glimpses of reality here. The irony is too much with us; Brad and Jens divorce..now there is older news in the doctors waiting rooms. I like the warning that the office itself holds a type of deadliness that is terminal if you sit waiting in it too long..great lines.
Hello i know this too well, the sat waiting with thoughts of real issues distracted by the meagre attempts to make those who need comfort and maybe a moments respite from their thoughts...this had me back to the place i last shared a few of the last few times with the one i miss every single day...a really honest and painful write., ... bravo