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What the Women Wrote, 1


02.21.13 Posted in words to linger on by

This is part 2 in the ongoing series of poems by women living with cancer. The first poem was published here in January 2013. This series of collaborative poems contains work by women who don’t consider themselves to be writers. The work showcased here was written at different campuses of a program by different groups of women, each group working together on poetry over the span of an hour or so. Get to know them. They will amaze you. 

What the Women Wrote, 1
By The Women Who Know

Today I will smell the flowers
and share the beauty of summer.
There’s a pervasive light flowing
into my heart today, this heart,
still warm, but not the same.
Tomorrow is uncertain but inevitable,
yesterday I dreamed of endless summer
filled with sunshine and all I know 
is that fear is no longer in me.

Fear is rocks and stones, we move
them out of the way. Today is a new
beginning, tomorrow, start over again.

My body overheard:
the pain of treatment
we’re in trouble
it’s time to call in the national guard
defcon 1
all systems alert
cancer
chemo
radiation
oncologist.

Then it heard:
move on
you can do it
take that first step
second step
third step
plié
merengue.

It heard
you are loved, needed,
and wanted
so keep going.

It heard
it’s most likely
a malignancy, just give me
a glass of wine
I am perfect the way I am.

It heard 
my body is my temple.
This battle was not mine 
and I am not alone.
There is an invasion from 
within but it will not
overtake me. Some things
are blessings in disguise.
Why was I so blind?

The thing to remember is to wish
everyone love, joy, peace, harmony,
because it’s not entirely about the goal.
Do you know and believe in your purpose?

Remember, like our fingerprints,
no two people are the same in every way.
Remember sunshine on a day like today.
Remember with your heart closed
nothing gets in, but nothing gets out either.
Remember to bring love to earth and be 
grateful to nature. Remember
better days come when we work
together, eyes wide open.

Remember I am who I am, I am me.
Remember to take time to smell the roses.



2 Responses to “What the Women Wrote, 1”

  1. Sharon Poch says:

    I am humbled . . .

  2. Sharon Poch says:

    I am humbled . . .

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