spinal epidural sentinel for two choices unrelenting pain or invasive intervention I call in Diana her unwavering tone Valium she brooks no opposition lying prone head in a hole think massage instead, surgical suite two doctors, fluoroscopy dye and needles he said, you’ll be goofy but I’m not— the gift, calm foretaste extended outbreaths cold, sting, pressure forty seconds and it’s done rolled out of the room achier for now kind nurses checking vitals getting dressed still tingly pain vanishing silent gratitude Diana’s steady voice Western medicine has its place
Wow! What a powerful poem! It puts the reader (me, anyway) face down on that table, too, with my own heartrate picking up until I read,
"the gift, calm
foretaste
extended outbreaths,"
and then I can outbreath, too. Beautifully done!