Cancer Patience

A blowing wind spins up from the still and serene Late at night a summer heat When the sun’s not there to instigate Knocks upon the old forest doors Jiggles handles of Walnut trees Latch unlatch latch unlatch Jounces the stars from their blackberry jars Bread crumbs for the young treasure hunters Embers of Pied-Piper mice Scurry from the lady’s midnight fire Deep to the black woods She stands up A scarecrow of cancer Brings down her arms Allows the airy wand To tap her body Throat stomach thighs She throws open the door Lets the wood dance and sigh With this charged billow of summer magic Her skin soothes as chambray Hair grows like wheat in fields Bones weightless leaves in the trees Ruffling ruffling She is free she is free.