Home Dialysis

5 of 7
days
a week
260 out of
365
the time
we jokingly call
“blood washing”
the machine
the supplies
the cartridge
that
2 by
11 inch
round
life-saver
out with
the bad
& in with
the good stuff
redder than red
cleaner than clean
60 plus
liters
like lovemaking
we do it
at home
hotel
cabin
riverside
or camper
these days
that
keep you
going yes
alive
each day
we set up
tape needles syringes
gauze, swabs, pads
masks, gloves
bags
charts
& picks
then
to find those
pesky
veins
those pokes
(most of the
time a buttonhole
bullseye)
alas
when
not
soon off we go
three hours of
pumping
& cleaning
from the magic
machine
& us
waiting
in-between
time
then
miraculously
it’s
up on your feet
out the door
seeking
our life
suspended
for a time
free
free at last
& yes thank God
almighty
free until
tomorrow.