What happened to the fish
I ask the receptionist
The plastic seaweed was toxic
She replies with a shrug
So we sit and wait watching
A string of jeweled bubbles rise
To the surface
In the otherwise empty tank
It’s our second visit to the oncologist
Only weeks ago four or five fish
Sashayed back and forth
Like orange and black flags
They seemed content
Devastation is a molecule of plastic
A broken chromosome
A surfacing bubble
“I live on the east coast of Australia in a small town. Having studied horticulture in Sydney, I went on to marry a New Yorker and study creative writing on Long Island. I am the proud father of two precious young women.”
“My wife died last year of a very rare cancer. The oncologist we visited had nothing for us. COVID had slowed down the wheels of hospitals all over the country, and the cancer had accelerated. I wrote this poem after our second and last appointment. My was fifty-five years old, and the kindest most wonderful person I have ever known.”
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19 thoughts on “The Waiting Room”
An achingly beautiful poem. I’m so sorry.
Thank you Ruth
so perfectly imperfect
Thanks Marybeth, I love the way you phrased that. Michael
Very evocative and powerful. Thank you for sharing your pain and grief with us.
Thank you Loreen
If Godot had a waiting room…
Lovely attempt at sharing the indescribable
Thank you
A beautiful and poignant poem and thank you for sharing .
I’m so very sorry about the loss of your wife. Thank you for sharing this beautiful, poignant poem that came from the ordeal.
It is a beautiful and devastating poem. Your loss is huge. And words are inadequate. Your metaphor speaks powerfully. Thank you and I hope that you are finding ways to integrate grief with the reasons for still living.
Thanks Sharon. Well put. Integrate grief.
The loss of the fish, your wife is devastating. It nails the pain of loss.
There is also something transcendently beautiful about the way you share her journey of suffering.
May you and your family find some ease and comfort in memories of her.
Many thanks Kaveri
What a poignant piece. Thanks for sharing your beautiful writing. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you Julie
The words of each line of this poem are “a string of jeweled bubbles.” Devastating and exquisitely tender.
Thank you Barbara
Your poem is beautiful and meaningful. Thank you. I am so sorry you lost your wife.
Thank you Tina