I have eaten
the plums that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold.
When D I first started dating, before we started sleeping together, I went to the local Planned Parenthood to get a birth control prescription and a fresh round of STD tests. When I went back to get my HIV test results* D drove me to the clinic and waited outside in the car.**
I had to wait a long time before the nurse called me back to give me my results and I remember being worried that D would think I had gotten bad news or that something was wrong. When I finally got my results (negative!) and went back out to the car I found him, seat reclining, writing the entirety of this poem to me via text.
*They had to give it to me in person, I'm not sure if that is still the case
**I'm not sure why he waited in the car but it must have been my choice, because I didn't (and don't) think it was a weird thing for him to do. Important information: I was not concerned that I had HIV (besides the low-grade what if terror that I think we all have) so neither one us was stressed about the results being bad.
*** This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams
****Image: Plums by Pierre Antoine Poiteau
I remember the Boy & I going to get tested together when we wanted to take the whole no more condoms step. (HUGE! Oh, those were the days.) He got his results via text a couple days later, while I was asked to GO IN. I was fucking terrified. Turned out I just had a low grade UTI from all the new relationship sex & they wanted to give me antibiotics, but lord have mercy, I'd rather never have that experience again.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem. That D. :)
I had to go in to get my results too. (negative) I just love hearing about responsible people doing responsible things. Oh, and poetry too!!
ReplyDeleteI donated blood in college and got a VM on my machine Friday when I got back from class. A nurse from the RED CROSS who wanted me to call. It was too late that Friday to speak to anyone so I was FREAKING out. Did I mention I was still a virgin and yet, was convinced I had contracted HIV some how. I would be that freak of nature who contracted it w/o having had sex.
ReplyDeleteCalled them Monday.
They wanted to know if I had a middle name.
NO! OMG! They couldn't say THAT on the VM?!?!
T
I LOVE that poem!!!
ReplyDeleteI have never been a huge fan of plums, but every time I read this poem, I want a plum immediately. Which I think is part of the reason I love the poem so damn much.
Heh - I was wondering if this would turn into a "that one time I got an STD test/had an STD scare" post...and it totally did!
ReplyDelete@agirl: don't tell anyone, but the motivation for the trip was pretty well aligned with the goal of yours
@Shanner: does what I told agirl make me irresponsible?
@T: That. is. terrible. At least it's sorta a good story now?
@jehara: plums are delicious! Just hard to get at the right ripeness.
you know, i fell in love with the poem when i was sixteen. i used to have a copy of it on my fridge. i think i started to like plums because of the poem. i still don't eat them regularly but every so often i will see a nice ripe plum at the market and have to get it.
ReplyDelete