Mary Slaton
she had
done her research
for months on end
sat down with the surgeon
asked him the same robotic question
a thousand different ways
had read that story about that woman
who had had the exact same surgery done
how she talked it up in the paper
had nothing bad to say about it
so, when that Tuesday morning rolled around
she felt like everything would go as planned
but that’s the thing about plans
it’s outta your hands
how could she know
she’d be lying there bleeding
how the surgeon would have to go back in
with another cardiac cut
deeper this time
supposed to be there 3-5 days
not 3-5 weeks
but she sounded good on the phone
hopeful to go home
any day now
get back to her daffodils
and her music lessons
and waking up in her own bed
with the birds outside
her window
singing their song …
her favorite melody
TL