I
It’s the first day of Benign Gyn Surgery,
though Third Year is almost done for me.
I’d finished Gen Surg and OB, too
I step into the OR, confident I know what to
do.
The patient’s prepped, legs in the air,
carefully draped in blue and exposed with
care.
II
The Attending walks in, quickly gowning
herself, too
She asks me, “how far in the rotation are you?”
“It’s my first day on this service!” I say with
pride
“Oh. We’ve been getting a lot of first days…”
they trail with a sigh.
III
I thought half the battle was showing up,
but on my first day, I’m out of luck.
My resident explains how to place the foley
First try, and it’s in! Holy Guacamole!
“Done!” I exclaim from under the drape
“You’re dirty. You’ll stay down there.” No
escape.
IV
Will this be my fate?
Oh, okay, I managed to state.
From under the drape, it begins to smell
Uh oh… “Code Brown,” I quickly yell
“It’s fine,” comes the reply
“It’s dirty down there anyway.” I sigh.
“Elevate the uterus,” they then instruct,
A manipulator through the vagina, no luck.
V
“Are you pushing as hard as you can?” they
ask
“Yes!” I say confidently, up for this task
“If your wrists aren’t hurting, you’re not
pushing hard enough.”
Is my effort quantified by my pain? I quietly
huff.
“Oh, okay,” I say, feeling a bit small,
From beneath the blue drape, trapped in it all.