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" ROUTINE "

We love you son, we'll see you soon
as the bed is rolled out of the room
along with drip bags
monitors
drowsy cargo
of one of the last of my line
my son

So down the sterile halls we go
the only noise muted footfalls
echoing off the pastel walls
of worry

Now into the sun lit dungeon
of hard edged chairs
last year's magazines
and worry
and waiting
and not really watching inane T.V.
and imagining
and writing worthless lines
and worrying
and talking of everything but..........
and waiting
and anxiety
and waiting
for each clock's tick
for word of completion
and worry
and worrying

What does "routine surgery " mean
still put under
still sliced apart
still parts removed and replaced
by fakes
.still
..that
..."minor"
....risk.....
........RING !!!.......
the O.R. nurse on the phone
all is finished
all is well
and we look at one another
Smiling
just routine

About This Poem

Last Few Words: All has apparently gone well with Dustin's 3rd hip replacement

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - draft

About the Author

Region, Country: South Carolina, United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Frost, Burns, Longfellow, Poe, and Johnson. I guess you've noticed these are all past masters. Other than folks on site I don't read any contemporary poets .

This user supports Neopoet so it can be free to all

More from this author

Comments

Geezer

Geezer

14 years 4 months ago

So glad...

to hear that all is well. Was it because of those bad replacement parts that I have been hearing about? i thinbk it is shameful that such things are allowed to happen. The companies that are involved should be sued to the max! This was well written and presented. I saw the worry, the long dragged out waiting, in this form. It suited it well. ~ Gee

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

hello Geez

Yes, the implants from previous surgeries never adhered to the bone as they should. We have retained a family friend who is a lawyer to go after them when his final surgery is completed later this year. the company stole 4 years of his life during what should have been some of his most productive years and will have forced him to undergo at least one more round of hip replacement surgery over the course of his life...............stan

lou

lou

14 years 4 months ago

Stan

I agree with Gee, and i presume the reason that you repeated the word ' and ,' was to illustrate the frustration and length of time spent waiting, but I felt that you could cut a few repeations of the word out.

Love Lou

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

hello lou

you presume correctly. I'll take your suggestion under consideration when I edit. Thanks for coming by..........stan

Roscoe Lane

Roscoe Lane

14 years 4 months ago

Stan,

Stan good to read words that all is well, and good to read well written words.Regards Roscoe...

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

roscoe

thank you. And now get to look forward to it being done to other hip in 3-4 months....................stan

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

Shirley

yes. This is 5 major surgeries for him in 4 years and one more to yet be done. Always nice to see your smiling face............stan

mand

mand

14 years 4 months ago

Stan!

Anxiety! not knowing! imagination run riot, heart in the mouth!

It's a relief when everything works out!

We never stop worrying about them, but in your case it must be even harder.

Thanks for sharing Stan - ( hug ) to you and Susan.

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

helloooo

Being a parent is a life long job. Thank you for coming by................stan

Licia Daniels

Licia Daniels

14 years 4 months ago

WOW, STAN

I'm touched by your poem, Stan.

Good luck with your son's recovery.

Diana

S

scribbler

14 years 4 months ago

diana

thank you for both reading and well wishes.............stan