Gratitude

Because I choose,
what I am left with is gratitude.

I am grateful for a calm, confident, good-humored, surgeon
and not needing him to be my best friend.

I am grateful for Nicolette and Adona and Cara and Ylang,
and all the nurses and PCs and transport people

at an amazingly friendly hospital with no students to teach,
for sterile supplies and makers of special mesh,

for all the smiling blue-gowned surgical nurses including “Granny.”

For Tricia and Geary and Lisa and Brigitte and Kip
who helped me prepare before and heal after.

From Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine

Full Blooming