ME AND MY OSTOMY.
‘Twas not an answered prayer for me
to ‘have’ to have an ‘Ostomy’.
It’s no more easy to adjust
just because something’s a ‘must’.
I could whine and feel quite sad
but now it’s done it’s not so bad.
Bright blood - red as it could be
it’s not unlike a rose to see.
Rose red colour, shape as well
shame it hasn’t got same smell.
Bulbous shapes surround a hole
as if formed by mini-mole.
Shows sensuous femininity
plus protruding masculinity.
There is base beauty to be found.
in this mucus membrane mound.
I appreciate it’s feel when warm
and celebrate its rounded form.
When washing with the water cold
it shrivels like it’s growing old.
Predictably it starts to grow
once warm internal fluids flow.
I must surmise how I might be
without my mighty Ostomy.
Pre–ostomy I had much pain
that I would not want back again.
Pre-ostomy as I recall
I hardly had a life at all.
From all that painful past I’m free
now my stoma’s part of me.
Bill Withers 2011
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Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister
This is great! You either have to laugh about this or make something beautiful out of it. Very nice!!
Recently, I received a diverting ileostomy for the second time with much hesitation. I am still post-op and trying to adjust. However, your poem is inspiring and gives me hope that I can feel better one day soon. I hope I can reach that place.
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Hello Bill, I reiterate what other people have been saying in that your poem is really beautiful. To that end, I am wondering if you would be able to give me permission to add it to my website, A Guide To Living With A Stoma, www.living-with-a-stoma.co.uk, since I believe that it would help many ostomates worldwide. I run my website on a voluntary basis, and it is independent and impartial. I set up the website to help ostomates worldwide with information, not as a money-making venture. Perhaps you would be kind enough to email me at jean@living-with-a-stoma.co.uk and let me know. In the meantime, take care. Many thanks, Jean.