Rafael Campo: The Performance
The Performance
Wish Bone the cancer clown came up
to BMT today. The kids
lined up in the solarium,
in two squat rows that looked just like
a dozen blighted eggs, bald heads
shining, the sun on them too bright
as if a miracle were near.
He started with some jokes: What’s black
and white and red all over? Knock-
knock? Who’s there? Anita. It’s who?
I need a hug right now! They laughed
so hard that one of them, the girl
with no platelets, got a nosebleed.
He twisted up balloons to look
like dachshunds and giraffes, then some
odd shape I didn’t recognize
which probably was a mistake
but Deb the nurse said could have been
the knot that formed inside her throat
as shamelessly we lapped it up.
The punch arrived, its blobs of pink
and green sherbet melting, like them
not long for this world. As we left
we grabbed some cookies, happy we
could savor what we know, in spite
of what we hoped, was cruel joy.
Discussion Questions
What words or images stood out to you in this poem?
How does this poem engage with hope?
How do you feel about the ending of Campo’s poem? How does it differ from Jaouad’s essay?
When have you witnessed or experienced joy in the hospital? How can we foster these experiences for patients, even in small ways?
Reflections from #MedHumChat
“The clown’s name being Wish Bone really stuck out to me. Made me think about the fragility of life as well as the thousands of wishes we make when we know that time on this earth is going to be cut too short.” —@CarlySokach
“Rereading, it's the title that strikes me as the saddest phrase: "The Performance" - the clown's, of course, but also the performance of the clinicians and, one wonders, even the kids. They are all trying to protect each other with the perfect performance.” —@annareisman
“So much of the word choice seems to play on this idea of cruelty, that this bandaid of joy is a sort of façade—hard for the narrator to accept. I wonder if the children see it that way, though. We might venture to accept their joy (and hope) is real.” —@LauraB_MPH
“To me, Wish Bone is offering a brief escape for those watching. Cancer and other chronic illnesses has a way of reshaping hope into focusing on small victories, like a day with less pain or going outside for a bit.” —@DrJenChen4kids
“I think the best and easiest way to foster joy is to talk about more than their illness. Ask about family, hobbies, or favorite books before you ask about number of stools.
I wrote an order for ice cream BID for a kid in the PICU today. That worked too.” —@jhanemd
About this #MedHumChat
“The Performance” was paired with “The Beat Goes On,” an essay by Suleika Jaouad for a #MedHumChat discussion February 13, 2019 exploring Music & Laughter on the Oncology Ward.
The pieces for this chat, along with the discussion questions, were selected by Colleen Farrell.
About the Author
Dr. Rafael Campo, MD is an author and physician who teaches and practices medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. You can learn more about him here.