Cancer

Generation

They scraped Fred’s bladder

and took Pam’s breast.

Positive, positive. Positive.             

Came back from every test

I phoned Uncle Pat

but he barely spoke

a year ago he got

the cancer in the throat

We were so confident

scientific and so sure

chemicals kept our milk fresh

for a month or more.

Lead in the petrol

mercury in our teeth

and hormones in our cows

to speed up our Sunday beef

Green Revolution

completely won the day

insecticides and fertilizers 

swept famine away!

We gave our food

a total renovation

and 50 years later 

we are the cancer generation

Keratin 100

and dropping

I love this new kidney of mine!

It was, I believe

frightened when it

arrived in my body

five days ago.

It knew nothing of the

screeching tires

the headlights on rushing trees

the twisting metal

and cracking glass.

Of blue lights on

a cold Swedish night

Of glances between

ambulance men,

‘Nothing we can do

for this one!

It knew only that

the liquids it filtered

were drying up!

It grasped for liquids

as you or I drowning

would gasp for air.

So when it felt my warmth

when the first artery

carrying the first drips

were connected

it started to do the only thing

it knew – to filter and filter

and filter.

And this I am told

brought a smile from the

surgical team

A good kidney this one!

And kind too.

I feel no contempt for

my old kidneys

that now lie peaceful

and resting

the faulty genes

were not their fault

and they laboured for a

decade to keep me alive

as they themselves collapsed.

My new kidney

is happy

to take the load

and let them rest

and to filter

and filter. And filter

and filter!

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