One summer day
A mom did try
To race her darling daughter.
Through a bounce house
She did fly
And really should have caught her.
But alas,
Her knee did “pop”
And the pain spread to her head.
Mommy lost
Then did shop
For a doctor whose bill she would dread.
Doc said, “Look!
What have we here?
I think your meniscus is torn.”
One MRI
Confirmed that fear
And now for her cartilage we mourn.
So surgery
Will now be planned
To remove the painful piece.
Now we do pray
The doctor’s hand
Is steady and his heart full of peace.
And so we part
I hardly knew you
Oh cartilage in my knee.
The day you’re gone
The pain will be too
And no more bounce houses for me!
- Janis Smeltzer, 2008
This poem was inspired by my friend Vanessa (who has written beautiful and moving tributes to both her stolen snowmobile and her stolen bike. Check out her blog here.) and written almost entirely while waiting for the doctor and scheduling nurse at the appointment today!