I Think My Doctor's a Vampire

Blood Lines Poem 14

I think my doctor’s a vampire

What do I do?

I’m not absolutely certain

But what if my hunch is true?

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He is ever so handsome,

His appearance lights up the room

Yet always he stands in the shadows

And seems to prefer the gloom

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Once I saw him in the sun

His skin sparkled softly in the light

Immediately, when he saw me look

He stepped back, almost in fright

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He normally works night shifts

Rarely on ward during the day

When asked about this habit, he insists

It’s due to staff shortages and better pay

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There’s never enough staff on the ward

So many come yet, so few seem to stay

Do “bank staff” end up as “blood bank staff” who

Become the vampire doctor’s prey?

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Blood transfusions are forever being ordered

The doctor seems keen on these packs

Is it one for the patient and one for himself?

Instead of a light bite, a liquid snack?

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He always wears a face mask

And adheres strictly to the rule

The excuse is covid precautions

I think his fangs make him drool

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I’m worried about the overall survival rate

On this haematology ward

Accountability for the sudden deaths

Seems slightly untoward

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But all of this evidence is circumstantial

My doctor needs to reveal himself

As a fully-fledged blood-sucking vampire

And join forces with my very own self!

I kept myself amused wondering if vampires worked on my haematology ward. Sadly all the evidence I had was circumstantial and no doctor or nurse actually revealed themselves to be a vampire, so it remains a conspiracy theory of mine. This poem was inspired by the “Twilight” saga. I re-watched the whole series of films during one stay in hospital.

Flynne’s Barn is a place where young people living with cancer can come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings and provides a range of immersive outdoor and creative experiences. I am sharing one poem per day during September 2022 to raise money for this charity. To DONATE, visit my GO FUND ME page. Many thanks.

Know AML is a global education and awareness initiative that provides patients and caregivers with the information, resources, and support they need to deal with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Their resources are straightforward and patient friendly. They have lots of videos explaining AML. This is the type of blood cancer I have. They have also featured my story on their website, amongst many others demonstrating the diversity of perspectives, impacts and experiences of those diagnosed with AML.