Dr.Ram Mehta Poet Free verse

The Diary of a Tobacco Chewer

“I never travel without my diary,
One should have something sensational to read”

5-4-11: I never knew about the above quote of Wilde
But an event in life taught me to keep one.

4-23-94: Let me start with the initial jotting 
A local doctor said it’s just cough, a thing seasonal

5-5-94: No cure, consulted again after two weeks 
Advised to consult an ENT specialist attached to
A Medical College Hospital.

5-8-94: Diagnosed cancer of the vocal chords
 
5-10-94: But preferred to have a second opinion 
Confirmed the first opinion and advised radiation.
The word spread in the University Campus town
In the Bohemians circle that a Wicket (Cricket) down
Heard from many mouths the fate of the tobacco chewer.

5-15-94: A friend of my son came to see me on hearing the news
He had the disease of the same type and category 10 years back
He took the radiation and there he was a positive case.

7-4-94: Started the radiation therapy of six weeks  
Resigning 4 months earlier than the regular retirement.
Along with the radiation started the nature cure therapy
And the greatest of all therapies, the rosary with HIS name.

8-12-94 the radiation machine, only one in my State went off 
Consulted the Cancer Hospital at Mumbai  
Got the reply appointment after six months.

8-22-94: Luckily the treatment restarted after 10 days
 
9-2-94: And completed the radiation course.

12-5-94: Retested and was declared cancer free.

Thus the history of trials, tribulations, tests and tobacco taste.

5-4-11: The habit is still with me even to-day.
Oh, the digit 5 could be a lucky number for me.

                         +++++++
May 10, 2014
Form:Free Verse

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Gail Debole May 13, 2014 at 1:51 PM Dr. Ram - Thank you for stopping to read my poem, and my apologies for taking so long to acknowledge your visit. Your style of poem is very unique, and I also admire that way you started out with a quote. Hope that this isn't true in your life. - Gail

Constance La France May 11, 2014 at 3:42 PM Ram, I love this quote of Oscar Wilde also and your battle with cancer I did not know about, congrats on beating this horrible disease

Matthew Anish May 10, 2014 at 7:22 PM I understand how you must have felt - if this is a true tale and not fiction. I had cancer a while back and I had to go through six months of chemo. It worked and I am O.K. Peace and Blessings Matthew Anish

Cherl Dunn May 10, 2014 at 6:46 PM Interesting write here, I think you've made the point and made your stand clear for everyone reading this to understand. Not a bad work on a different sort of level, nice job cheri and thank you for your comment on poem.

Frederic Parker May 10, 2014 at 8:33 AM Never understood the need to chew tobacco, it seems a messy habit, and it comes with cancer..I hope this was just a poem with implications

Seren Roberts May 10, 2014 at 7:48 AM Glad it was good news at the end, but smacked wrist for continuing to chew. Glad you had a second chance at life...Seren