PoetryNetArchive
Tuis /
Home
Briewe /
Letters
Kennisgewings /
Notices
Skakels /
Links
Boeke /
Books
Onderhoude /
Interviews
Fiksie /
Fiction
Poësie /
Poetry
Taaldebat /
Language debate
Opiniestukke /
Essays
Rubrieke /
Columns
Kos & Wyn /
Food & Wine
Film /
Film
Teater /
Theatre
Musiek /
Music
Resensies /
Reviews
Nuus /
News
Spesiale projekte /
Special projects
Slypskole /
Workshops
Opvoedkunde /
Education
Artikels /
Features
Geestelike literatuur /
Religious literature
Visueel /
Visual
Reis /
Travel
Expatliteratuur /
Expat literature
Gayliteratuur /
Gay literature
Xhosa
Zulu
Nederlands /
Dutch
Hygliteratuur /
Erotic literature
Bieg /
Confess
Sport
In Memoriam
Wie is ons? /
More on LitNet
Adverteer op LitNet /
Advertise on LitNet
LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.

The ovary in the arm, and other tales from the crypt

Helen Moffett

A woman undergoing cancer treatment has had
her fertility saved after doctors transplanted
her ovary into her arm.

Sunday Times, 14 November 2004

I am so sick of this; the way folk offer me
Dr Frankenstein’s laboratory,
Holding out science like some charm:
“They can do wonders these days!”
And “Have you thought of fertility treatment?”
Gosh, no. It never occurred to me.
I only know everything a layperson
Could ever digest – thanks to a cold collation
Of journals, the Internet, a dozen consultations
With specialists. I am only too adept:
Along with the miracles, I have the
Pulverising figures on failure rates
And crippling costs at my fingertips.
All this to jolt a speck of plasm into life –
While the compound interest of AIDS
Is multiplying orphans as we speak;
All I wanted was natural, normal
The everyday stuff; you know,
Conceiving in passion,
A common-place burgeoning
An ordinary breeding and birthing.
So little to ask for;
Beyond impossible to get.




LitNet: 08 August 2006

Click here to return to Helen Moffett's index page.

Did you enjoy this poem? Have your say! Send your comments to webvoet@litnet.co.za, and become a part of our interactive opinion page. Or submit your own poetry to Michelle McGrane for consideration.

back    /     to the top


© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.