Long Mastectomy Poems

Harriet Harris née Kuritsky...

Despite being a nineteen year old bride
she wed Boyce Brandon Harris
half a decade her senior,
(where I ranked less than a twinkle in their eyes)
during the month of June 1955, 
not quite half...

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Double Set Up


The first lump was the scariest in 1983.
 I had found it in the shower.
 Two other major surgeries I've already had that very year.
 I was thirty three.
 A mammogram back then...

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Harriet Harris circa November 13th, 1935 - ~ May 4th, 2005

untimely death sentence ordained 
approximately six months prior 
to mother dearest celebrating 
her seventieth birthday,
though the last three years of her life
impacted courtesy hysterectomy
to remove...

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Harriet Harris née Kuritsky circa November 13th, 
1935 - ~ May 4th, 2005
(untimely death sentence ordained ~ early February 1935)

I trot out a poem acknowledging birthday
of dear ole mom, who succumbed, 
lost lease on life
nearly...

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Harriet Harris circa November 13th, 1935 - ~ May 4th, 2005
(untimely death sentence ordained ~ early February 1935)

Test teasing prophylactics embarrassing
purchase never made at local drugstore
unsurprisingly, obviously, invariably...
birth control taboo subject, best to ignore
subsequently intercourse...

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"everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucious
 

all she could see were her scars-
painted perfectly upon her chest like
a reverie flowing to her sadness
 
scars are proof of pain and pain is
proof...

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breast cancer runs rampant within me late mother side
whar moost every female diagnosed with emotional ride
into the depths of despair where metastatic cells pried
their way into the appendages whar din o suckling provide
did initial sustenance...

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"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucious
 

All she could see were her scars. 
Painted perfectly upon her chest like
a river flowing to her sadness.
Scars are proof of pain and pain is
proof of...

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If the Dark Ages were to come again
and electricity would cease to exist,
pray tell what'd happen to us?
P'raps it be smart to start a list.

Well I certainty wouldn't be sharing
poetry across the web.
You can bet...

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C'mon you ole devil, take your best shot!
You kidding? That's it? Is that all you got?
I know where I'M going; He's saved me a spot
I'll warn you once more in case you forgot
You're messin' with...

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Come on you old devil, take your best shot!
You're kidding! That's it? Is that all you got?
I know where I'M goin', He's saved me a spot
I'll warn you once more in case you forgot
You're messing...

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Sue had been so proud of her curvaceous figure and considered her pert breasts were her outstanding feature. Sadly, breast cancer runs in her family and now she too had fallen victim to this cruel...

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Breast of roses where her femininity used to be.
A scent of blossoms milled out by mastectomy.
The clippings praise and curse at the same time.
Her petals falling, weeping, assaulted, past prime.
Not fair…not the way she wanted...

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Susan was a cancer survivor
After her mastectomy
She went thru her blue period
But I didn’t know her then
When I met her she glowed
Exuberant and beautiful
Celebrating the gift of life
Dancing to share her joy
Her story and her...

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The Kiss

Breasts
Symbol of nurture, 
womanhood
Mens obsession
Natures gift turned to curse
Mastectomy, 
Your identity confused
A great loss, 
You choose life
Taking no chances

You stare at yourself in the mirror
Feeling your loss
Crying 
Grieving
But you are still here 
Thankful
Your fight...

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