I had another clear scan last week, and found this poem I’d written back in 2017 when I was sitting in the main concourse of Addenbrooke’s Hospital nervously drinking tea before having radiotherapy.
Who’s Worse? by Stevie Turner
Here I sit and drink my tea
Before my appointment in Oncology.
A sea of people pass before my eyes,
Fat ones, thin ones; every shape and size.
On their way to who knows what?
Maybe to see a doctor and find out what they’ve got.
Whatever they have I bet I can see
Someone here who’s worse off than me.
Yes, there he is, a little old dude
In a wheelchair and with an oxygen tube.
*
Here I sit in my wheelchair and seethe
‘Cos I’ve smoked all my life and now I can’t breathe.
I’m on this pill and that one, green, red and blue,
Still no difference; I can’t even walk to the bloody loo.
Never mind, my old lady will wheel me off
To Respiratory, where they’ll get me to cough
And breathe out into that tube which I can’t do,
Because of cigarettes, ‘cos I’ve smoked quite a few.
Oh well, Maybe I can see
Someone here who’s worse off than me.
There she is, poor old cow,
No arms, no legs, just a torso.
*
My motorised wheelchair is the best,
I get around from east to west.
Along the hospital corridors I fly
To see my mate who’s going to die.
I was born this way, I know no other,
I’m used to it; it’s really no bother.
I overtake a dude with an oxygen mask,
Who’s wheezing like every breath’s his last.
And a thin woman sitting drinking her tea,
No hair under that scarf that I can see.
Poor lady, so sad to be that way,
At least I’ll see another day.
She gives me a smile as she sips her tea
As she probably thinks… there’s someone who’s worse off than me.
daisysapna said:
Beautiful😍💓
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks.
LikeLike
Enolley said:
Nice poem
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thank you!
LikeLike
Gurpreet Singh said:
Harsh realities…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Indeed.
LikeLike
c.a.h. said:
This is so powerful. I saved it… I love this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks very much for your comment.
LikeLike
jackspratt99 said:
Perceptive – good observation – it works well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks!
LikeLike
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Jack.
LikeLike
dgkaye said:
Pretty powerful prose Stevie. And I can certainly understand how your mind wanders at such appointments. Cheers to the great news!!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Debby. Don’t have to worry about scans again for another 6 months!
LikeLiked by 1 person
dgkaye said:
Beautiful!!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
robertawrites235681907 said:
This is a well thought out poem, Stevie. You have captured how people thing exactly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
robertawrites235681907 said:
Congratulations on your clear scan too. Always a relief.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Robbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Yes, there’s always somebody worse off, isn’t there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
robertawrites235681907 said:
If you are born with a specific physical barrier, you don’t know anything else. I can believe that is easier to deal with than having know something different and then losing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Absolutely. The person I saw with no arms or legs was laughing and joking with somebody.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terri Webster Schrandt said:
Very heartfelt, Stevie, and oh so true. Congrats on your clear scan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Terri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
beth said:
here’s to another clear scan and another wonderful poem !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Cheers Beth. Been clear coming up to 3 years now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
beth said:
That’s excellent
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Beth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
suzan khoja said:
You had cancer??? I did too. It was leukaemia. Blood cancer. I can relate to this not more than you. I just feel sad that you brought it to yourself (telling from the poem). Avoiding all this bad stuff is what the world needs to know. I got cancer without taking all these things, imagine how bad it must be for those who bring it on themselves. Take care of yourself. Congratulations on a clear scan, hope you stay healthy and happy forever. 🙂✌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Suzan. They say I might have developed thyroid cancer from dental x-rays I had as a child. Who knows? It’s not one of those lifestyle cancers. Anyway, it’s gone now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
Thank God you are safe now. Cancer can be tricky, I suggest you take vitamin supplements. The new research says that if you have signs of cancer and no vitamins, the body has a great chance of getting it. The more the supplements, the more immunity your body gets to fight it’s cells before they grow. My mom searches all of this stuff. It’s been 10 years since I had cancer and the doctors say I can have it back. If I don’t take care. 😔✌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
I eat lots of oranges, which fight cancer and boost the immune system. I took this tip from my mother, and she fought cancer in her sixties and won, and lived to 92.
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
I am happy you know about this technique, I fought cancer when I was 2 years old. I am glad she lived a lot. Take care of yourself Stevie. We all love you. 😘💓
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Ah, you’re very kind, Suzan. x
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
Thank you but you are very supportive Stevie. I don’t see people like you anymore. 🙂✌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Only too happy to help!
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
🥰😘✌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Oh, and I read and commented on your story, Suzan.
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
Thank you. I commented back with a longer comment 🙈 need a lot of help now. You are the master. 😜😍
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
No, I’m still learning, the same as everybody else; it’s just that I’ve had a 6 year head start!
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
That’s a big experience. I hope you learn more and teach me more. 🙂✌😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
You learn as you go along.
LikeLiked by 2 people
suzan khoja said:
I hope I learn as much as I can. 🙂✌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
It’s all a learning curve .
LikeLiked by 1 person
suzan khoja said:
It so is. 🙂✌😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks ladies for the re-blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
Congratulations on your clear scan, Stevie. I’m hoping for the same next month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
jenanita01 said:
Congratulations on another clear scan, Stevie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Jaye and Anita.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Darlene said:
A great poem!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Darlene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tigerman said:
How very true. I always think this when I have some problems or another. It is no use complaining, as I know others are far worse off than me. Great to hear that your scan went well. Best regards Tigerman
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tigerman said:
Reblogged this on turkmed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for re-blogging.
LikeLike