The Day I Took My AIDS Test

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JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

0 posted 2011-01-02 07:05 PM

Back in the day AIDS was a big thing. Still is, it is just not a reported on so much these days and a lot of false statements were proven wrong. But when I doctor out of the blue told me she wanted me to have an AIDS rest . . . well . . . it prompted this . . .

Doctor said you have to have an AIDS test,
I squeaked aloud, clasped hands on my chest.
You could have goosed me and called me silly,
my thoughts raced from L.A. to South Philly.

If you sleep with Sue, you sleep with many,
ten years of Sue's lovers, even Lenny.
My mind went into overdrive, my God,
You do Dolores you do a whole squad.

I fretted and worried and thought the worse,
are my days numbered, do I see a hearse?
Why did she want me to give up my blood,
Jeez, I wish I hadn't been such a stud.

Child of the sixties, I went on a spree
LSD, Janis, CCR, love free.
Mountains of free love, the name of that game,
jumped in with both testicles, claiming fame.

My math skills means that those who I slept with,
one means a thousand, I hope that's a myth.
Lost weight as I waited daily in shock,
walked around sighing and watching the clock.

Finally the day came, the blood they did draw,
I signed something pertaining to the law.
Giving them permission to do the deed,
Yes! Stick me! Hurt me! Come on make me bleed.

Now comes the long wait for the tests' outcome,
as I waited my thoughts bordered on numb.
The doctor called, said everything was fine,
I sighed aloud, gave thanks to the Divine.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

s1nfully_1nn0c3nt
Senior Member

since 2003-10-26

Posts 1105
Watertown, NY

1 posted 2011-01-02 07:36 PM

Ah, A friend of mine wasn't so lucky, or perhaps just careless....Well written.

-Trina.

When you decide to walk away- walk away. Don't look back, In that moment you'll lose trust and faith- in yourself.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2011-01-02 07:46 PM

It was, and still is, a scary time for many...but life and lives change, but STDs remain the same...life threatening.

A good poem...a better reminder...
and I'm glad
you checked out clean.

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

3 posted 2011-01-02 08:01 PM

Sorry about your friend, Trina, but like you said there is an awful lot of luck involved. My concern was strictly sexual, I did drugs, but never used the same spike with anyone else. Yep. Luck.

<><><><>

Oh, I'm very happy I checked out negative myself, Sunshine. Although I kinda made light of things in the poem, let me tell you I was scared to death about it.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2011-01-02 08:30 PM

Never smoked, didn't do drugs...and still, I'm very mindful of poems such as this. As it is? I pass 'em on...so others will know that very fear...

good stuff, J.

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

5 posted 2011-01-02 08:42 PM

Good for you on both accounts, Sunshine. I had to learn the hard way I'm afraid. Good for you for 0passing these kind of things along.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

Rex Allen McCoy
Member Elite

since 2000-01-30

Posts 2863
Sippin a Timmy's in London

6 posted 2011-01-02 11:03 PM

waiting for the results ... I can feel the ulcer kicking in

good write

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

7 posted 2011-01-02 11:18 PM

I know from your profile you want critiques but, even though there are a lot of errors from a poetic standpoint, I suspect this was written in a more emotionally-releasing way than being concerned with rhyme and meter. I can understand that.

There were a lot of misconceptions about AIDS when it came out and a whole lotta nervous people! Waiting for test results had to be one of the hardest things one could go through. You expressed your feelings well.

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

8 posted 2011-01-03 03:29 AM

You took me on the ride with you. Thank you.

Alison

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

9 posted 2011-01-03 06:36 AM

Yep, I agree, Balladeer, there are mistakes in here. I guess I;ll take off the critique, maybe I'm getting to old to take the criticism as well as I used to. Thanks.

<><><>

Appreciate it, Alison,

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

10 posted 2011-01-03 06:51 AM

You got that right, Rex. Panic time.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

11 posted 2011-01-03 08:15 AM

And what a load off your mind when you find out you are fine!

lori

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

12 posted 2011-01-03 10:33 AM

The old live by, die by, was eating you up inside.
Glad you came through safely.

Eric

ain't doin nothin at all just answerin the call
and kinda driftin away from it all

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

13 posted 2011-01-03 11:57 AM

Ab-so-lutely, Lori! Absol;utely.

<><><><>

You're right Eric, that phrase entered my thought many times. I had myself convinced I was gonna test positive. But like Balladeer said, there was a lot of evil misconceptions going around those days.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

DrinaLove
Junior Member

since 2010-12-23

Posts 30
California

14 posted 2011-01-04 05:05 AM

Got to say the first lines made me laugh...but its not luck its precaution that saved ur life

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

15 posted 2011-01-04 05:14 AM

As much as I would like to agree with you, DrinaLove, I must disagree. Taking precautions of any kind never entered my way of thinking most of my life, especially the wild days of Free Love of the sixties and seventies.

I appreciate your input here and hope you have a wonderful New Year.

When early morning quietness seeps into my being
it's like I'm being hugged by everything good in the world.—August 16, 2010

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius

since 2001-03-19

Posts 13631
West Coast

16 posted 2011-01-04 03:07 PM

JP...can see how it would be quite a thrill the waiting and wondering..my rule during those times and now...was/is "protection is always riding faster than the reaper"..so I do...and I wear rubber gloves when I make wasabinaro salsa too.

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

17 posted 2011-01-04 03:33 PM

Haha. I hear you, DS, it is just something I refused to do. Didn't think too much about it until the AIDS thing came along. I thought a lot about it then and after.

Thanks for your presence.

Born Free........Taxed to Death

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