HALF A POUND OF TISSUE
March
| Half a pound of tissue scooped out of its shell; | ||
| -a malignant lump. Cancer. | ||
| Half a pound of tissue and a lump the size of a pea; | ||
| -my breast. Nipple gone, | ||
| skin folded over, stapled; | ||
| muscles repositioned. | ||
 | ||
| Look at all the prostheses- | ||
| Almost like normal. | ||
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| Sure! | ||
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| Half a pound of tissue which nourished my sons | ||
| -as many years ago | ||
| -the nipple they sucked. | ||
| Half a pound of tissue never again | ||
| -to be touched | ||
| -or caressed. | ||
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| Grief over half a pound of tissue? | ||
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| You bet! | ||
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From Journey Unknown (Journey Press, 1994) |
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