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Melanoma Winter: In Poetry

March 16, 2014 //  by Terra Osterling

The past six weeks have been stressful and emotional. Two major surgeries in 2 1/2 weeks is also tough on the body. In total, I’ve endured two rounds of general anesthetic, two sets of stitches and/or staples, countless IV and syringe pokes, and almost three days admitted to the hospital.

Four weeks ago, I was again post-surgery and one day home. Now, I am back at the keyboard working — writing — for a living. For life. It’s hard to write about this situation, but it’s also hard to write about anything else. In an effort to get back on the horse, get over the bump, and maybe even thumb my nose at Melanoma, I offer poetry. And humor. Because if I don’t laugh, I’ll surely cry.

Laugh with me:

Part One:  PET/CT Prose

24 hours of low-carb hell, then:
Enjoy your barium shake
and complimentary bar-code bracelet.
Warm blanket wraps — as many as you desire!
Tucked in.
Cozy.
Still.
“3 – 2 – 1:  Please hold your breath.”
[Cue relaxing tune, The Girl from Ipanema.] “You may now exhale.”
Welcome to the Radioactive Spa.

Part Two: Hospital Gown Haiku

“Opens in the back.”
Back? It opens everywhere!
This is not clothing!

Part Three: Recovery Rhyme

Sleeping in the recliner:
There is nothing finer,
for when you can’t lie flat
and you feel like you went ‘splat’!

Fifteen staples halfway around my neck,
(Yes, I look like a total wreck).
As I stumble around in a post-anesthesia fog,
“I will campaign against the choke chain! -” is my promise to the dog.

No driving, no exercising, no housework: it’s a shut-in’s life.
I am now re-acquainted with daytime T.V. strife.
Though, I did find Little House, Indiana Jones, and Golden Girls —
Even Shirley Temple, God rest her good soul, and her curls…

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Category: Experiences, Motivation, Outside my comfort zone, PoetryTag: Hospital Gown, Melanoma, PET/CT scan, Recovery, Surgery

Previous Post: « Now for something completely different
Next Post: Bringing Back Snail Mail »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pat Ritch

    April 10, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    This is truly beautiful, Terra! I can relate to it in my own experiences, though different, some similar. You are an inspirational OVERCOMER!You are so strong.

  2. Antoinette Di Ciaccio

    March 16, 2014 at 8:20 PM

    Talent under such stress and pain. You amaze me, Terra. I hope it was good for you as it as great to read. Keep them coming. The horse is galloping!

  3. Rosemary Irwin

    March 16, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    God bless you, Terra; you are magnificent. To begin with, my heart jumped to see you were able to post something new. Over and above this, your poems capture so much truth and humor. You answer every challenge with excellence. This is truly great work.

  4. fladack

    March 16, 2014 at 2:32 PM

    My thoughts and prayers are with you, and my being wants to see you soon on a regular basis again. Your therapy poetry is great! Something good out of the trials of your life!

Trackbacks

  1. Summer Soul | SUDDEN WRITE TURN says:
    July 8, 2014 at 11:30 AM

    […] winter, and laugh in its face. It was because while we had record cold and snow I had to endure recovery from major surgery and face down both the mind-wrenching and coming treatments for a melanoma diagnosis. At a few low […]

  2. Bringing Back Snail Mail | SUDDEN WRITE TURN says:
    April 13, 2014 at 2:19 PM

    […] ← Melanoma Winter: In Poetry […]

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