This has been an odd summer. I feel like I sort of fell into it in a stupor after the trials of the past year. I’ve been trying to regain my equilibrium, to find some sort of stable ground beneath my feet. One way of doing that has been to push myself to get back to blogging twice a week, which generally means Slice of Life on Tuesday and a Poetry Friday post. Since I’m still a bit off, I rarely have a post ready to go and typically find myself scrambling on Tuesday and Friday mornings. I guess that’s really a long way of saying, “I just wrote this”, which was the only thing one writing instructor I had allowed writers to say before sharing our newly written work, in order to avoid long explanations, apologies for quality, etc.
This week (and maybe last week…and perhaps the week before…) I’ve been obsessed pre-occupied with my first, much-delayed routine colonoscopy. In fact, I should probably write an apology poem to everyone in my household who has been an unwilling partner on my anxious journey to yesterday’s early morning appointment. Perhaps it was my focus on intestinal issues that prompted this recent notebook entry (which probably shouldn’t see the light of day, but it keeps making me giggle, so I’m sharing it anyway):
Poetic Indigestion
These days
poems feel
a bit like bubbles
caught in my throat
definitely there, but
not quite ready
to emerge
Nature helps
Each everyday wonder
acts like a gentle nudge
to push that bubble upward
and oh-wayward-analogy
burp it out
©Molly Hogan, draft
Yesterday’s procedure definitely inspired this acrostic, which came to mind as I tried to drift back to sleep this morning:
Grossly Unfair
Congratulations! Your colonoscopy is
Over! Everything is normal. We
Look forward to seeing you in ten years.
Oh, Wait! Your sisters had polyps?
Never mind–see you in five!
©Molly Hogan, draft
Sorry to bombard you with intestinally-inspired poetry, but at least I didn’t add photos!
This week Mary Lee Hahn is hosting Poetry Friday at her blog, A(nother) Year of Reading. She’s sharing a heart-tugging poem inspired by a clunker line from Linda Mitchell’s Third Annual Clunker Exchange.
Nix the comfort zone 
Yup. The first one is definitely a “wayward analogy, but also giggle-worthy! Glad to hear you survived colonoscopy prep (the biggest YUCK ever) and you NAILED the title of the second one! Nailed it.
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I have been way to preoccupied with my colon lately! lol
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I’m giggling and so happy that your colonoscopy went ok. What a terrible thing we have to go through. I hesitate to share my experiences because I don’t want to keep anyone from doing the right thing, which is to just do it. I’m not sure how your insurance works but since I have a history of polyps, they don’t pay for the procedure as a screening (ever again in my lifetime). Grossly unfair!
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That is unfair! Insurance is such a racket. I was considering alternative less-invasive testing methods but then found that if they indicated a need for further screening such as a colonoscopy, that wouldn’t be billed as a screening but as a diagnostic procedure. Ugh.
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Hooray! You survived. It’s an awful experience, in my experience, and I decided right there in the office that I would never EVER do that again. I love how you weave humor into these poems…and I’m a huge fan of “Each everyday wonder” I love each and every paired in the poem. Well done (in what ever way you interpret that) Molly!
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Sorry to hear you had such an awful experience, Linda. I have heard repeatedly that this was NEVER intended as a general screener. There are alternatives out there that are worth looking into.
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Good shares Molly! I appreciated the last poem having family medical history issues myself 🙂
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I’m a little grumpy with my sisters, lol. Not fair, but true!
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Molly, it’s good to see you here, and you finding your equilibrium. I’m glad that colonoscopy is finished (for a few years now). I too have “poetic indigestion” — but your second stanza is encouraging me to watch for the everyday wonders. Nice!
“Each everyday wonder
acts like a gentle nudge
to push that bubble upward”
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Nature to the rescue every time!
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That had all the surprise of a loud burp in a cathedral, Molly. You negotiated both your appointment and the resultant poetic outpouring with sufficient diagnostic dignity. Great outcome all round.
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Your first line made me laugh out loud, Alan.
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Glad that your colonoscopy is over and everything is well. I love that you were able to make lemonade out of the ordeal. They are the worst! Your burp poem is perfect–nature is always the nudge I need.
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Considering that I’ve been obsessing about it for way too long, I’m glad something good came out of the experience!
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Absolutely, made me giggle! Thanks for being brave enough to share! Colonoscopies are the worst but such relief is felt when they are normal! Hopefully, your indigestion will subside now!
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It is a relief to know everything is normal, but I swear I already hear the clock ticking!
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I undestand. My cologuard was “abnormal” this year for my screening…so then, I had to get the colonoscopy. Everthing was fine and I’m good for ten years but the waiting (and, the prep) is terrible! Hopefully, the ticking with subside for a while before it gets louder again!
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There is nothing quite like laughing in the face of adversity. So glad you got a giggle in the midst of such a pre-occupied week! And yay for great colonoscopy result. Shucks to 5yrs.
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I’ve decided to think of 5 years as more of a suggestion. 🙂
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ugh! I feel your pain, Molly! But what a great way to endure – make it a poem!
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