Poet of the Month--Angelee Deodhar

Double Helix

By Angelee Deodhar

Now a housewife, once a surgeon
a template for the DNA chain
like the double helix of her being
she’s reduced to wearing latex gloves
only while housecleaning every week
meticulously she dons cap, mask, apron

on a trolley arranged with surgical precision
lie her gloves, brushes, dusters, solutions
she drapes furniture with sheets of cotton
then pulls on her gloves tightens them
her size a neat seven

she prepares the area to be cleaned
with a weak Savlon solution
swabs it as she would an abdomen
in précis deft strokes
from above below left to right
never using an extra movement

and just as she had once done in the OR
she keeps soft music on – Strauss, Vivaldi
she wonders if now her DNA double helix
carries two genes
one for housewife one for surgeon

squeeze-drying the mop each time
she scrubs the floor surgically clean
removes the trolley
absently counting her instruments
removes gloves, cap, mask, apron
the overshoes

washes off the excess powder
from her hands and creams them
looking at them critically thrombosed
blue-veined yet soft supple
she warms them with her mug of coffee
and then takes up her pen
to write a poem.

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From the editor--It is an honor to announce that Angelee Deodhar is December’s Poet of the Month. Dr. Deodhar is an award winning writer who has been published in a variety of venues. Angelee is a gifted eye surgeon, editor, translator and artist as well.  Readers at Whispers relate to her powerful and creative poetry. She has been an encouraging voice at our online journal and regularly enhances contributors’ poetry with artwork which are such gifts to receive. Angelee promotes Whispers, which has led to new writers joining our poetry community. She has collaborated with another writer on a poem that was featured at Whispers. It is a pleasure to present Angelee with this honor!

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Thoughts on “Double Helix”—Intrigued by the title, this poem captured my attention right away. It was a privilege to share in this powerful journey of loss and transition. Having to give up my own nursing career, I found aspects of myself in her words. This is such a heartfelt piece. Angelee’s multi-sense imagery and actions forward her message in a dynamic way. In the end we are given the gift of hope, as she begins a new avenue to share her gifts.

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Congratulations and thank you Angelee!  I appreciate all you do and have done for Whispers.

Sincerely,

Karen O’Leary, Editor