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Cancer PantoumUnder the lights, the doctor works fast;he takes out a tumor the size of a giant frog. There's nothing wrong with me, my mother keeps saying, mind over matter. He takes out a tumor the size of a giant frog. I'm cold. Her heater breaks down. She says no, you couldn't be, mind over matter. While still in the hospital, she wants her checkbook, her bills. I'm cold, Her heater breaks down. She says no, you couldn't be. Eighty-two. I hear her voice scratching. While still in the hospital, she wants her checkbook, her bills. We talk about the neighbors. Lose some weight, she says. Eighty-two. I hear her voice scratching; don't get sick like this; remember to take your vitamins. We talk about the neighbors. Lose some weight, she says. Calcium, vitamin C. Vitamin B-12 under the tongue for your nerves... Don't get sick like this; remember to take your vitamins. Don't drink so much tea, and please take out the trash. Calcium, vitamin C. Vitamin B-12 under the tongue for your nerves... We talk about nieces and cousins, not tumors-- Don't drink so much tea, and please take out the trash. The alarm: I jump up. We talk about nieces and cousins, not tumors. But this is not a dream. I know what I know. The alarm: I jump up. I can feel all the bones in my mother's back-- there's nothing wrong with me, my mother keeps saying-- but this is not a dream. I know what I know. |
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Issue #6, January, 1999 :
Santa Fe Poetry Broadside.