The SCAR Project

Ekphrastic poem

Her eyes fixed on mine.
They radiated
challenge
and I found her
necklace gaudy compared to her curls.

I stared
because she stared
and though I tried to hold her gaze my eyes slipped
down her ringlets and over the mound of her belly
bypassing her naked chest
before realizing
she was maimed,

scarred, I
cried for her
and my mother
and the  mastectomy patients waiting for the knife
and regretted
the mundane movements,
those slurring steps through life,
I’d taken for granted; wishing--

wishing I knew her strength.

Author's Note

"The SCAR Project is a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors shot by fashion photographer David Jay. Primarily an awareness raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.

Dedicated to the more than 10,000 women under the age of 40 who will be diagnosed this year alone, The SCAR Project is an exercise in awareness, hope, reflection and healing. The mission is three-fold: raise public consciousness of early-onset breast cancer, raise funds for breast cancer research/outreach programs and help young survivors see their scars, faces, figures and experiences through a new, honest and ultimately empowering lens.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in young women ages 15-40. The SCAR Project participants range from ages 18 to 35, and represent this often overlooked group of young women living with breast cancer. They journey from across America – and the world – to be photographed for The SCAR Project. Nearly 100 so far. The youngest being 18 years old."
http://www.thescarproject.org/mission/

Reviews

[JourneyBlu]

Gorgeous and incredibly powerful! This piece gave me chills. What a wonderful cause to be inspired by! Thank you for sharing!