Woman with Grief 2

Ms. Haiku

Tomorrow's to-do list includes taking
the cotton off the puncture hole. It's bound
by adhesive strips that move when taking
a shower. The cotton ideally round
and fluffy - soft and puffy for taking
pictures of make believe animals found
in 1970s gift shops - taking
note of how blood sticks to it without sound.

People in pain repeat a tongue-known phrase,
prayer from childhood or favorite song.
When my name was called during those first crazed
days when all blood-draw times developed long
and slow like one falling blood drop, my way
of repeating a song's phrase kept me strong.