Medical Fall
A poem by Tina Hacker

Medical Fall

When I tumbled off the exam table,
my doc was frantic. She told me,
You tucked and rolled like an athlete!
I was stunned. Totally stunned.
Never—ever—have I been compared
or seen my name
in the same sentence as athlete.
Me, the kid always picked last
for any team in any gym class.

I fantasized for a few moments,
visualized myself leaping over hurdles
or conquering the balance beam.
Even catching a ball—something
in the realm of impossible.
My doc thought I was passing out.
Then I grinned.
I’m just smiling through the pain,
I told her.
Isn’t that what athletes do?

About the Author:

Tina Hacker’s most recent poetry collection is titled GOLEMS. Originated in folklore, a golem is a mud and clay being summoned from the earth to accomplish a task dictated by its creator. After fulfilling the task, the golem returns to the earth, becoming mud and clay again. Tina is sure a golem helped her with her Poetry Breakfast submission.

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