This Will Hurt
He is tubes
tethered to a totem
of toxins and suction
His mother weeps
against the window
already gushed with rain
He cannot eat until
his body realigns
Already the ID bracelet
slides freely
from wrist to elbow
These are broken:
five ribs, pelvis
lung—collapsed
spleen—ruptured, removed
He tears up at the thought
of ever driving again
He says the medic held a needle
said, “This will hurt,”
and pierced his lung
When I ask if it hurt
he looks left
and clicks the morphine button
strung down over his chest
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Author's Note
I wrote this after visiting by best friend in the hospital following a terrible car accident. I'm posting it here in celebration of his recovery, and his recent engagement.
Other stories by John Woodington
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wow! this is wonderful. **
Excellent vignette of hurt and loss. Like this a lot.*
Wonderful form and pacing. the pain here is palpable. Glad all is well now. fave
Thanks for the nice comments!
Understated and powerful. Very good work. *
It's powerful, the description's just right, and the pacing spot on. So glad to hear your friend is getting better and has happy news. Fave
The pared down, straight-forward choice of prose works deftly in this poem, against the severity of damage done by the accident. Powerful, deep and moving.
Fave.
Much appreciation for the kind words.