DEEP BREATH

I know so well now This view of dear old North Dublin Out the Oncology Day Ward window - Clouds and birds pass by; The birds in a hurry And the clouds taking their time In this silent, silvergray tableau While inside, that ever-familiar "Beep beep beep - beep beep", The machines delivering All manner of treatments From kind to not so kind And again, no loud voices Allowing both time and space To think - Perhaps, at times, Too much time And too much to think about Like the last CT scan results - Every three months the scan And every three months the wait. Every three months You hold your breath Deep breath Waiting to breathe again.