Hospital

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My hospital bed was being moved 

rapidly down a hallway 

crowded with an abundance of

Medical supplies and equipment 

in the old St Mary’s. 

I had a unique view of the ceiling tiles, 

the lights a swirl of activity, movement

And voices.

“His pulse is at 21 we have to…”

Poke, IV drip, shaved chest

Electrodes in several locations

To listen in

All graphed and recorded in “live time”

To the nurses’ station.

“We’ll see”

A hospital a sleeepless place

Beeps, snores and groans,

Nurses on the run,

Lights on, blood pressure and

Other vital signs at odd hours.

Drip, drip of the relentless

Life saving IV

Morning in a groggy fog

Looking at a new reality.

Poke your finger for sugars

Lift your tongue for your temp,

Need your index finger for oxygen

Turn to one side, take a deep breath.

Swollen feet, slow heart

Thoughts of death

Learn to lie down and pee into a 

plastic

Bottle, 

eat jello

And stare out the window eyes level with 

The flapping Canadian flag

As grey clouds skirt by my view.

After the pace maker I watch the

Tattle tale screen to a reassuring

130/83. 72

The battery lasts ten years I’m told.

Will I?