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Poetry
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The Side Room
By Livinginanattic
31 July 2007
A more serious piece than my previous works, this is about a situation I was in a few years back.



I fight my battles here.

Blood counts are low.
I'm here alone in this room
away from the ward
isolated
from all infections and germs.

The needle in my vein
is taped to my wrist,
feeding me with a fluid
that both poisons and cleanses.

The young nurse enters
wearing protective gloves and apron
and speaks tenderly
as she replenishes the solution
for my drip.

Alone again, I sit here
wondering if the ghosts
of former occupants of this room
could be watching,
and willing me to get well.

Reviews
HI LIA
Written by jean.day (2283 comments posted) 31st July 2007
Very good poem which I could certainly relate to, from my husband's current situation - but he was never in a side ward.  
 
I liked the idea that the ghostly previous occupants might be looking out for you and wishing you well. 
 
And I know you did get better, so they must have done. 
 

Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 1st August 2007
Very glad you are still around to write this Ben. Liked the last verse particularly. 
 
Phil

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 1st August 2007
I liked this too and want to imagine that former residents of your room were silently cheering you on. I had a friend who was in isolation for a whole year after a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. He survived against great odds. It is hard not to believe in miracles.

Written by Livinginanattic (456 comments posted) 2nd August 2007
Many thanks for your comments Jean, Phil and Witzl. I wasn't sure how the last verse would be received so I'm glad you liked it.  
 
Jean, I do hope Philip is bearing up OK with his treatment. 
 
Mercifully I was never in isolation for more than a few days at a time and was always optimistic about the outcome. If it was a whole year I'm not sure I'd want to write this, even now! 
 
Hello
Written by Josie (2785 comments posted) 28th September 2007
My word, how your poem has brought back memories for me. I've bben there too. I had a streppacocca infection and the chances of being here are one in a million. Well, we have both survived these dreadful things and thank God we are able to share our poetry together Ben. It certainly is very frightening, but for a while I didn't know much because I was on morphine for the pain. Well written.

Written by Livinginanattic (456 comments posted) 30th September 2007
Thanks Josie. Sounds like you did very well to get through that and I'm glad you're still with us.  
 
Cheers, 
Ben 
 

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