Hospital Visiting….
Last week when my friend Hugh’s wife Edna went
to hospital in the ambulance they sent
I’d go next day to visit her I thought
when I left the International Airport.
Hinemoa was going to OZ to see her kids
though the thought of flying puts her on the skids.
To go by sea takes too long just to meet
in Sydney with her Jessica and Pete.
Well, I’m bowling down the Parkside Avenue
where the first spring blossom’s beautiful to view
and I turn into the hospital car park
to encounter Christchurch City’s foremost nark.
I cruise around the entire parking lot
but anywhere an empty space there’s not.
I keep driving slowly round and round about
in case I catch somebody pulling out.
There are arrows on the drive that mark one-way
and it seems that everybody’s parked long-stay
and the only block where there are empty places
is reserved for staff with chains across the spaces.
I am crawling in a fairly lengthy queue
of others seeking parking spaces too.
There is absolutely no way to reverse
without invoking every driver’s curse.
I drove around for longer than an hour
in rain which now became continuous shower
though which, to reach the door, I’d have to duck
and to get a park I seemed right out of luck.
So my plan to visit E. I gave away.
I’ll come and try my luck another day
or, maybe I’ll just write a get-well letter,
and visit her at home when she gets better,
With Hugh’s bung leg and ‘Disability’ sticker,
I hope that he can find a D-Park quicker.
Heathcote Giffen, October 10th. 2008.
In a list
A contest entry
- HUGUENAUTIES CONTEST No. #37 - Cheers for Hugh and Edna by huguenauties.
750 points, ended October 24, 2008, 20 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
-
I loved the reality of this poem, and the feeling of frustration that overwhelmed me when I read it made me want to stop reading. LOL
I am sure Edna knows this tale as well, and it will bring a smile to her face, if for no other reason than the pure irony of it all.
The best to you in the contest.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
-
Oh my God, have you been visiting Montreal hospitals also. Love the last two lines at the end, a great way to leave the person after a depressing drive...with a smile!
Gregg
-
It isn't any fun having to visit the hospitals for any reason let alone when it is a most loved one there...
-
You didn't get to visit Edna, but your trying to get at the hospital adventure, made for an amusing poem.
Next time borrow Hugh's sticker, or do as I do, ride a bike.
Funny parking tale
-
Oh sure. likely story! I bet you actually went to the local tavern and had a few beers didn't you...you never even went to the hostpital...why that's an old trick of mine!
I've had my share of parking difficulties. I had this one job that I'd show up at the busiest time of day and it was nearly impossible to find a parking spot...strange when the most stressful part of the work day is finding a place to park.
Just try to get into the Moxie museum in Union, Maine. Why that place is pack 24 hours a day...maybe I exaggerate just a little.
-
excellent~
Your get well message is oh so true
Sometimes it is so hard to find a spot to park
I have a handicapped sticker and used too you could find a spot anywhere now you can't even with those except in some places..
A lovely get well message
Best of luck in the contest
Hugs
Susan~~~
-
Dear Heath,
When parking's at a premium,
it can cause delerium!
So nice of you to spend
an hour 'round the bend.
You tried so hard to find
the spot you had in mind.
I'm so glad that Hugh
has a friend like you!
Peace and Love!
<3 Maureen
-
Heath, it broke my heart to get on that plane without you, but I know you couldn't get away, I was very brave on the plane, never panicked once and the stewards were so good to me. I hope you kept your promise and went to visit Edna at home.
I'll be on the plane tomorrow ...
Hine
-
...parking is a pain every where...great entry..
-
So well you express
your pain and distress,
and that was only from the parking lot.
One must indeed, be in perfect good health,
not only to park, but to walk the mile to give a smile!
-
Dear Heath, The same thing happens here in Sydney, it's very hard to find a spot and if you do there's that long walk just to get into the hospital, let alone getting to the ward the patient is in. Very annoying for sure.
Best to go and visit Edna at home.
Great poem dear cuz.
Love Jen
-
Well done
I enjoyed reading this story, and I have had some similar experiences - so many that now I pray before I arrive at the parking lot that a space will be available (sometimes there is). It is frustrating, and I hope that you were able to park in Hugh's street.
Best of luck in the voting!
-
Dear Heath, I'm looking forward to seeing Hine while she's in Australia visiting her children.
Hugh is always telling me how hard he finds it getting a parking spot to visit Edna and how far he has to walk. It's unbelievable even here in our hospitals how hard it is to find a spot to park. Well she is home now so I hope you do go and visit her.
Enjoy your break from Hine and get your stamina back as you'll need it when she comes home.
Love AJ
-
Dear Heathcote,
I can understand your angst and your frustration
at the hospital's poor parking situation.
Any time of night or day it is always the same way
with the car park overfilled to saturation.
Even with my orange 'Disability' card,
to find an empty park's extremely hard.
In the few 'Disabled' places there are rarely any spaces
to be found in the entire car-parking yard.
Although the system's all "Pay and Display"
and a two hour maximum's all you can stay,
it seems every Paul and Peter must go back to feed the meter
'coz I'm sure that many cars are parked all day!
Even when you spot someone pulling out ahead and you're lucky enough to get that space, go to the machine and get your two-hour ticket, there's the long walk to the Hospital entrance followed by miles of corridors to the lifts then another long walk, when you reach the right floor, to get to the cardiology wards. As you know, I have to rest my leg every 150 yards or so while the circulation recovers which takes about 5 minutes so, even after finding a car-park, it used to take me over half an hour to make the distance to the ward where they kept Edna. Every 90 minutes I'd have to go all the way back to get a new ticket and then return to the ward or risk getting a parking fine.
I can't tell you how glad I am to have Edna back home.
Your poem graphically describes the first stage of a hospital visitor's nightmare. Good luck in the voting.
Applause and cheers. Hugh (R.)
Adding your comment:
1 - 14 of 14
