giving blood

the nurse taps the crook
of your out stretched arm
and says,
you have good veins.
they're easy to find.
she wraps a tight band
around your arm, above
the elbow, then brings
the hidden syringe around,
you don't have to look
if you don't want to,
she says with a smile.
but look you do.
the silver needle goes
in with a small pinch,
and you see the ruby cloud
of blood
being pulled from you
into the glass tube.
when you wake up,
you're on a white cot,
there is a glass of
orange juice on the tray
and three oatmeal cookies
with raisons.
you feel the small lump
on your head,
then take a bite of
a cookie wishing they
were chocolate chip.