Waltzing with Cherenkov

She has seen in the pool of water above
the nuclear reactor a phosphorescence ghostly
lovely and blue -- a phenomenon named
for the Russian physicist Pavel Alekseevich Cherenkov
specifically:

The emission of light by a charged particle passing through a transparent nonconducting liquid or solid material at a speed greater than the speed of light in that material

The rotten mass in her lungs
a black gelatinous glob
product of malevolent mutations
an evil manifestation
relentless devourer
as might be seen in Grade C cinematic horror.

….Stage III non-small cell lung cancer :
Cancer has spread to structures near the lung; to the lymph nodes in the area that separates the two lungs (mediastinum); or to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or in the lower neck. Stage III is further divided into stage IIIA (usually can be resected which is sometimes treated with surgery) and stage IIIB (usually cannot be resected which is rarely treated with surgery).

Under the x-ray she lies flat in semi-darkness
Hold your breath please her body fills with light
lovely and ghostly she dreams of dappled colors circling
a ballroom floor and under the hum of machinery whispering
sweet strains whispering strings of violins she wears
a silken gown and she is dancing waltzing
waltzing with Cherenkov.

........................................................Israel Lewis

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