army hospital
rheumatic fever
bed-tied many weeks
too embarrassed to ask for bedpan
the rigmarole of screens and knowing attention
- for my pains
severe constipation
and bleeding piles
am led away to be injected
crouching
waist-down undressed
upon a marble table
being shaved the wrong end
(easy talk between doctor and nurse)
the needle takes its time
feeling for entrance
(gentle talk between fingers and tongue)
JAB
searing lava
stuck pig
bouquets in white coats
sorely to bed
time
evaporates the pain
and
later
much relief
