Dr Mbugua Telephones
A few weeks ago, no more,
I noticed, which had not been there before,
A blemish on the skin beside my knee.
How big was it you ask?
About like half a pea.
It wasn't a thing to worry anyone,
If I had seen it on a child
I would have said
It's just a wart - and smiled.
But when I'd passed sixty
I'd made myself a rule,
that I would have these things checked out,
And feeling quite the fool
I went off to the doctor, apologising -
But she said, no, you're right to come
Though if this is anything
It would be surprising.
Nevertheless, she said, for the same reason
That you came to me,
I'm going to send you to a specialist,
But don't worry, I 'm sure he will agree
That this is nothing -
We'll just do it for the certainty.
The specialist was very pleasent,
From Zambia I think he said.
Anyway he pushed and pulled my knee,
And then, with some shaking of his head,
Said, - I'm sure this is just some harmless mole
He even gave it some long Latin name
Which I can't now recall.
Nevertheless he sent me for a biopsy
Because, he said that was best for positivity
When the surgeon saw the mole he smiled and said
Nurse! I think I can remove
This whole thing with the eight mil. punch.
As he did, we talked about the nurse's cat,
"If this is anything, he said, I'll eat my hat!"
And we all laughed,
And that was that.
Some days later finishing my tea,
The phone rang, and I went to see who it was.
A soft voice redolent of Africa asked :-
"Mr Lawton? - About your biopsy."
