Spinal Tap

January 19th


Day 2 in Hospital


Here comes spinal tap
On a square tray, sharp and silver needles
Gleam and Clatter.


Wait, wait a second for
Getting the breathing together.  No I can't.  No way.
I once saw on TV a child crying and screaming.
I want to cry.  Does it hurt less if I cry?


I felt a good looking doctor's fingers feeling my spine、
Palpating to identify the location.
Suddenly it came to a full stop.  
She must have decided the direction of the needle.
Injection is coming.


Anesthetic first.
A metallic sensation slowly crawls in.
White-knuckle it wasn't required.
Excruciating pain I heard, it wasn't.


Next, spinal fluid is going to be drawn
Get on to the real thing.
I felt something like a dental drill inserted into.
I can take more.


The good-looking doc said,
"It will be over soon."


I took it.
It wasn't so bad.
"I'm taking the needle out," she said.
My spinal fluid is out of my body.


Wonderful.
It was not so painful as I expected.
Great.


Then it occurred to me that
It was not like I was cured.
I hope the not so painful miracle needle would bring in a real miracle.


Thank you, Doctor.

Poem by Maria Franki

Edited and translated by J. Ujiie
© 2011