Walk, Talk, Persevere
Our hands in our pockets, we walked.
‘Twas of Lila’s cancer we talked.
“Oh, sure, it was one fucking jolt!
One week, all is well, then this bolt
from Doctor X come a-roaring
in our ears, but then my adoring
Meg said, ‘Give us some options, Doc.’”
“In the past, it was urgent – tick-tock,
to cut off the woman’s whole breast.
But now it’s the simple way’s best.”
The importance of one single fact:
Lila’s dignity would be intact.
There’d be scraping and chemo, but then,
their future to build was the plan,
“Rebuild Lila’s health” was the rule.
They married; bold women: They’re cool.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore
From Brenda Warren’s Sunday Whirl, and just in time! Wordle words are in bold. This is dedicated to all women and men who have survived breast cancer… and in memory of those who did not. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Sherry Blue Sky
Wonderfully life-affirming, Amy. Brave women and yes, VERY cool!
Sharp Little Pencil
So many women I know have fought this disease and have not lost hope. God bless them all.
brenda w
Love that you rushed it in at the last minute, Amy. Such passion, such determination, such damn fine writing. You often carry the voice of a strong woman in your work, and of voices that need to be heard. I’m honored that you write at the whirl.
Brenda
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda, you have no idea what an opportunity and challenge you give me every week. To stare at the words on the screen; to write them down in different ways until a pattern emerges; to sort them, noun, verb, and words that will work as either… You give a gift to all of us!
There are so many strong women whose stories are collected in this one poem, but the marriage part is about my sisters-in-law – one was a patient, the other, a nurse. Linda is a survivor and I am so glad they were able to “keep” their California marriage! Thanks, Bren. Amy
vivinfrance
Well constructed wordle on a painful subject: the underlying seriousness is well served by the light touch you have applied.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, it’s amazing how much one’s attitude has in fighting pernicious diseases. My sister-in-law (who did eventually marry her partner, but whose story is mingled with many others here) used to attend “toning” groups, in which they would harmoniously invoke notes vocally. The three of us toned in a cavern behind Niagara Falls, and to be joined by the thundering waters… well, I just got a chill, so I think I’ll write a poem about the experience! Thank you so much, friend. Amy