Cancer

Hold back the hour. Stop the tears from flowing. Breathe again untainted air. Take back my bones, my breasts, and race forward to passion once more Hold back the hour, before the ravaging of every sinew and fleeting glimpse of salvation, and forced pity encroached upon my earth Hold back the hour, before tested strength proves weakened failure and commitment runs a ragged road Before privacy alludes and birds no longer sing for me, or the pinch of reality is drugged away before the fluttering of breath Now bring back the hour let the tears flow I’m ready