Stuck

There is a stuck place
Right over my collarbone.
It is hard like one of the silver dollars
hidden in the back of my jewelry box.
It is intractable,
unyielding,
stubborn,
intransigent,
uncompromising,
Stuck.

It has disregarded my plea.
To dissolve,
fade away,
give in.
leave the area.
Please.

“Hmmm.”
says the radiologist.
as he peers at the screen.
“Hmmm.”
says Andy,
looking over his shoulder.

“It is the same,”
they agree.
“3.5 cm.”
The same as it was
two months,
four infusions,
and two different poisons
ago.

It gave in so fast
at first.
I became confident,
complacent.
sure of its cooperation.

Now,
it’s stuck.
We're stuck.
Stalemate,
Mexican standoff.