Ring, ring, goes the phone
So shrill is the incessant tone
2 AM calls are rarely good,
When on call in a pensive mood.
A frantic teenager on the line, crying,
“Mom’s vomiting again, I think she’s dying
She won’t take her medicine, I’m afraid
Moaning in pain, please, she needs your aid.”
Oh, young mother, how much you suffer
Your body ravaged by metastatic cancer
Lung, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes
Your prognosis looms ominously.
You’ve been, to live, given about a month
Hospice supporting your remaining path
Your symptoms remain terribly uncontrolled
Take your medicines mom, your 16-year-old tries to lovingly scold.
“I won’t, I won’t, I might die from overdose,
Will that medicine bring my life to a close?”
“You’re suffering, Mom, you’re moaning in pain,
Take your medicine, Mom, why suffer in vain?”
“Take me, take me, take me back to the hospital.”
“You just got out, Mom, let’s be logical,
They’d give you the same medicine anyhow
Take your medicine, Mom, why furrow your brow?
“It’s 3 AM, the hospice nurse is in house
Let her help you, your suffering she can douse
What is it that you fear?
Take your medicine, Mom, I will stay near.”
Vomiting in buckets, gasping for air
Body racking in pain, tears a stain
Mother and daughter holding each other
“Take your medicine, Mom, we are in this together.”
“I am here for you now, Mrs. N
Nurses have no desire to overdose any one,
Let’s get this nausea gel on your wrist.”
“Take your medicine, Mom, relief will be swift.”
“I see your pain, let’s put this medicine under your tongue
Don’t let fear stop you from fighting the rogue.”
Says Mrs. N—“Oh no, I’ve heard morphine can kill!”
“Take your medicine, Mom, let her help you with her skill.”
An hour passes and then two, three, or four
Many more doses to fight the forest fire to the floor,
Finally better, less pain, no vomiting, a tiny smile.
“You took your medicine, Mom, now rest for a while.”
“Thank you, nurse, for holding my hand, being here
Cancer, not medicine will take her life, I know, I fear
Thank you for not letting me walk alone
What’s life, but caring for people known, and unknown?”