F.B. --A Failure by George Bascom

 $Unique_ID{AST00206}

$Title{F.B. --A Failure}

$Author{Bascom, George S., M.D.}

$Subject{poetry}

$Journal{}

$Volume{}

$Date{1982}

$Log{}

                                 LATE ASTERS

                              F.B.-- A Failure

An apology would seem to be in order--

     Though Sabiston says go after them,

     Says one should take a wedge of atrium

     Or sacrifice some vena cava when malignancy like yours

     Burrows and sticks fast.

Your pardon should perhaps be asked--

     Though someone says these things were meant to be,

     Were marked upon your calendar and mine

     From when time first began to tick;

     Though someone sees a blessing in your death

     Since you had so little chance for cure.

Yet some forgiveness seems required--

     Because you favored me with hope and trust,

     And, though I said, "We'll take good care of you,"

     A clamp slipped off the atrial wall.

     Blood welled from that awful wound,

     And you were dead.

An apology would seem to be, as we say, indicated now--

     Now clamps have failed and cautery,

     Needles, monitors, and gas;

     Now catheters, now pumps, now everything.

     This post-operative contingency

     Is nowhere covered by authority.

     Without technic or text

     I am alone with the apology I owe.