Universal Donor by Jacki Souza

Universal Donor

by Jacki Souza

I tell the nurse I'm O-negative

and she smiles, and stabs my vein-

her needle leaves my arm stinging

and me, wincing at the pain.

But a pint of blood

isn't much to give-

maybe someone else will live because of what I did.

Universal donor, they told me that first, nervous time.

In shortages, in emergencies

they want blood like mine.

Original blood donor-

dying

on a splintered tree-

crying

for someone

like me?

His blood warm and healthy,

and deepest, purest red-

maybe someone else will live

because of what He did.

Not a pint or two His sacrifice

but all of it bled

from His hands and His feet,

from the wounds in His head.

Universal Donor,

Your blood covers,

replaces mine

the only transfusion

that can save my life.