Monday, March 5, 2012

Your Mammogram Appointment

By Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas

They will tell you: do not apply powders
on the day of your appointment─

do wear a 2 piece outfit, the top
half easily removed for a quick

change, as we provide a loose upper
gown, free of buckles and zippers─

the same one you wore last time;
celadon green, washed and pressed,

stored with all the old films.
Avoid long dangly earrings, saved

for Saturday nights and the supple
grace of your décolletage.

Never bring children, they will not
be able to accompany you to the x-ray

department, where you will be asked
to reach in and guide your fleshy

teardrop to the imaging machine,
for what is termed; a routine screening─

but someone forgot to mention
nothing about this is routine.


Previously published in Yale Journal of Humanities in Arts, March 2012

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