The Biopsy Room: Prostate

Jack Coulehan

doi:10.7326/M15-1467

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Ad Libitum |6 October 2015

The Biopsy Room: Prostate

Jack Coulehan, MD, MPH

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Each punch of the device

thuds in my boggy brain

a fraction of a second

after its teeth bite

a sliver of prostate—

a miniature dragon

attacks my rectum,

a white-clad assistant

slips fragments of tissue

into labeled containers.

Twelve punches, a dozen

vicious bites, the twelve

great labors of Hercules,

especially his capture

of Cerberus, three-headed

sentry of the underworld,

the twelve apostles of Christ,

especially the last, Jude,

patron of impossible

causes, the twelve Knights

of Camelot, especially

Gawain, the purest of heart

who lopped off the head

of the Green Knight,

but found forgiveness,

the twelve Olympian gods,

especially Apollo,

my protector, the zodiac's

twelve constellations,

including Libra, which

augurs balance and grace—

The last punch reminds me

of Cancer, its sharp pincers

won't let go.

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Ad Libitum |6 October 2015

The Biopsy Room: Prostate

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Ad Libitum |6 October 2015

The Biopsy Room: Prostate

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