ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

MELANOMA ... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet

Mel and Omar loved the summer , loved the heat and loved the sands
loved the beaches and the water, both liked looking deeply tanned.
Slathered on the cocoa butter, basted every joint and breast
slow rotated on the beach towel – slow cooked there beside the rest.

Every summer Mel and Omar spent their holidays in sun
either on the Gold Coast Queensland or up north where Marlin run.
Surfing, fishing, water skiing, jogging daily on the beach
Never wore a hat or T shirt ... Factor 30 out of reach.

Now it seems they’re somewhat spotty, some protrusions have appeared
quite apart from looking grotty Mel and Omar are affeared.
Words are bandied round the surgery - cancer, sun spots, BCC,
flesh is cut, biopsies taken – we will see what we will see.

Oh alas results appalling – seems the news is really bad
second stage of Carcinoma – the prognosis that they had.
Too late now to heed the warnings – slip, slap, slop, seemed too absurd
now it seems that Mel and Omar know the Melanoma word.

I like this a lot. Hidden behind the play on words and humour lies a very important message.

My parents were quick to apply coconut oil back in the day when we holidayed in the sun. My brother is preparing to have a large section of his nose removed and replaced with skin grafts.

Cover up people.

I remember this one Maureen. A fun way to get a serious message across.

Heather

Yes, good one Maureen. Funny - but then, not so funny.

Cheers, Shelley

Very well said and it's so surprsing that our young have learned or taken the message onboard
but sadly some oldies including myself just ignore slip/slop/slap , a few festivals, I've been to
the first aid tent always has sunscreen with them , sadly I know a very dear poet friend who
passed away with it 5 years ago

Yes, very well done Maureen - maybe it should be hanging on the wall in some doctors' surgeries!