RED DEVIL

I’m scheduled for labs, one day early—today, in fact
Why?  My body has no strength to stand for even a minute
Do you know that one chemo is so powerful as
To be dreaded by patients, one and all?
As to the name of this dreaded chemotherapy, it’s Adriamiacin
This chemo is so highly toxic as to have acquired a nickname
The nickname of Adriamiacin is Red Devil
What?  I exclaimed, last week, when that nickname
Hit my ears with a thwack while the nurse was busily
Attaching a tube (to a red bag filled with Adriamiacin) into
My port, and so with tongue in cheek, I piped up—
Just a second, please—We’re not infusing anything called
Red Devil into me—And then I went on—
If Adriamiacin’s toxicity proves essential to
My recovery and if we’re not pumping
Red Devils into my body by way of my port then
It stands to reason that a new nickname is necessary with
Immediacy, and in less time then it takes to wink an eye
Will piped up with—How bout Cherries Jubilee!
YES!  Responded my spirit, eyes flashing with humor
Cherries Jubilee fits the bill to a tee!
And now, each time that red bag is hung onto
The pole that feeds tubes filled with
Life saving medications straight into my port
I smile at the power of words, which
Relaxed my mind while my body feasted upon Cherries Jubilee!
Thank goodness the power of positive focus is contagious
Why?  Because my chemo nurses are enjoying this
Switch in nicknames as much as is true of
Will and me, and also, thank goodness for the fact that
Will and I have long been in the habit of
Brainstorming toward palatable solutions on the spot so as to
Authorize such a delectable change in nickname, which
Offered me peace of mind though the only change that
Truly took place was our positive choice of words ...