He Ok. Poem by Terry Collett

My son Nat
was in hospital
having had

an operation
late that night
I rang in
the hospital ward
how's my son?

I gave out his name
he OK
the nurse said

orientally
is that all?
I asked her
can I speak
with him now?

he asleep
he OK
she replied

she sounding just like
a Confucian monk
with a high pitched voice
how did the op go?
does he feel all right?

he orwight
she replied
is that all

you want know?
I hung up
I couldn't
be polite
and say anymore

I rang back
the next day
some young nurse

filled me in
with all the details
how he was
how he was feeling
the operation

she told me
was quite successful
he can return home

once the doctor says
it's Ok
I hung up
after I thanked her
I wondered

about that
communication
misunderstanding

with that nurse
during the night call
but I guess
she Ok
as she'd say.