NO BIG DEAL

(thinking of a friend facing a second heart procedure)

The doctor said,

“Hey, I saved

your life once,

so let’s do it again.”

My friend said

it was no big deal,

but then he said

wait, yes, big deal,

it just doesn’t seem like it.

The doctor

was casual, carefree,

so my friend thought

maybe he should be too.

He said all things being equal –   

blockages and breakthroughs,

clouds and sunshine,

unease and curiosity–

who knows, he said,

a hospital

might be a place

where newness

would surprise him,

where wisdom would wait

with a reward,

all cool and calm,

no big deal.