Goodbye to All That

Recliner,

leather, tan,

near the door,

hard to push back.

TV on the opposite wall.

The nurse gives me a pillow

and a warm comforter. A little pinch

of a needle. I sip my apple juice

when she flushes my port because I can taste

the saline flowing through my veins. I don’t know why.

It’s really gross. Steroid, anti-nausea, Benadryl, another saline flush, Taxol, drowsy.

Try to nap, hours pass, have to pee, hungry, no snacks there,

just some saltine crackers. Matt plays on his phone, I check my texts.

Watch Love It or List It or Home Town or Property Brothers on HGTV.

My infusion pump squawks loudly, and the nurse chirps, you’re all done! Time for home.