Scenes from a Hospital, A Poem

By Kara Jackman 

Editor's Note: I wrote a lot of poetry when I was in college. Recently, I went through a book of poems from that time. I was fearless in writing, much of it is okay, not great. Stumbling upon this one, I felt I should share it with you. I am not ready to share with The Mighty, but did want to share with you. Hope it resonates with you. 

The masks
monitors
sticky patches on my chest
tubing, nurses
doctors
All the props in place.
The doctors say their lines
Follow the script.
A kiss on the forehead from my mom,
she's playing her supporting role, too.
We've acted these scenes before.

Into the room
onto the stage
filled with a sticky sweet sterile smell

"Put me out, Put me out"
I scream silently.
Juliet must have felt the same.

The nurse takes my hand,
my mother's reluctant understudy.
It's not the same.

I'm slipping away.
The room, lights, swirl, dim
fade
    to
         black.

Scene.