army hospital
rheumatic fever
bed-tied many weeks
too embarrassed to ask for bedpan
the rigmarole of screens and knowing attention
- for my pains
severe constipation
and bleeding piles

am led away to be injected

crouching
waist-down undressed
upon a marble table

being shaved the wrong end
(easy talk between doctor and nurse)

the needle takes its time
feeling for entrance
(gentle talk between fingers and tongue)

JAB
searing lava
stuck pig

bouquets in white coats

sorely to bed
time
evaporates the pain

and
later

much relief