Deposition

Tumour

Surgeons probed the ruin
that six weeks ago was a woman
for the source of her Nile of pain:
razed ovaries through a keyhole –
they proved benign;
twice hoovered her guts
through a nasogastric hose –
but still they fouled;
slit the abdomen at last
and from her colon cut
the egg-sized ruby mass
that damned her bowels.



Post-Op

In the room scrubs come and go,
check vital signs, the glucose drip,
bring clear liquids for her to sip,
...