By Dr Joseph Hawkins, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Clinical lead for End of Life Care, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust. Twitter: @JoeHawk75825077

Completed my will today,
Said good bye
To the cat
And cancelled the milk.

Need to call my solicitor later
And the vicar,
I’m not religious
But the family has always
Liked the village church.

Must remember to pop to the bank
Going to ring the boss last
Not looking forward to that one.
Such a nice bloke,
like family really.

Finally spoke to the boss,
Told him they said I was palliative,
Yesterday.
That’s good he said.
-Quite took me back.

No, no-don’t worry,
You’re still seeing the other fella, right?
Palliative just means you’re
Getting more support
-come on mate, he said,
We knew you weren’t getting better from this.

Now you’ll have a bit more help.

Made me feel better, hearing that.
Got to go to the bank tomorrow.
And un-cancel the milk.
Don’t think the cat listened first time.

It turns out being palliative today
Is no different to not being palliative
Yesterday.
Oh-must remember to update the vicar.

Also by this author:

Say You Have To Go
The Tree That Stands By My Window
I’m Afraid I have To Go Now