Poisoned Body

A poem through the perspective of a cancer patient and her struggle with body image

I cared for her as one would the precious life of a newborn baby

And as delicately as a blooming flower

I kept her up when she felt down

And tended to her every need

I showed her happiness in dance and laughter

I cared for her

But perhaps she did not want to be cared for

Perhaps she was not meant to be cared for

For she betrayed me

She grew inside her a poison that spread

One that I could not fight, try as I might

For God knows I did

She stripped herself of what she most cherished

She drained herself of life and color

Leaving a pale, gaunt sight of a figure

That once illuminated

She rejected all I gave her

Exiling that that would mend her

Leaving only bile

And a weak existence of what once thrived

I now stare at her

Who I cared for dearly

At the outcome of self destruction

Though standing now,

At the face of self destruction 

I see the beauty she once was

Her beautiful shape, full of life and longing

A joyous complexion full of color

Graceful for its difference

And jubilant in movement

An illuminating aura

And oddly enough I study her for what she has become

The result of self destruction and tender care

The missing pieces lost to her own poison

The thin, pale, and broken figure

And all her beauty

Though she may try to kill me, she is beautiful.

Author's Note

I wrote this poem in my head, middle of the night, and tried my best to rewrite on paper the morning after. My ideas were all over the place, so it is a bit (very) messy. Organization has always been difficult for me, feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Reviews

[Onlyme]

Interesting poem, thoughtful, compassionate and interesting, insightful and respect of someone with cancer and how it affects them. It's no easy task deal with Cancer.