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For Angela: After she is told she has cervical cancerPoem for “Angela”, W_____ After she is told she has cervical cancerMaisha Quint behind prison perimeter fences huddled inside a cinderblock cell you sit and do not scream dig fingers deep into your palms indent half-moons of cinched skin inhale quick ragged breaths as needle-thin pain shoots through your abdomen you do not scream even after your period lasts one month longer than it should the prison doctor dismisses it as normal and you tell me about the first surgery how your body collapsed onto the concrete walk how a guard collected your crumpled figure dumped you into the back of an ambulance and after this you discover some surgeon butchered your womb sliced off two thirds of your cervix didn't bother to close the gaping hole how did you not scream? and after this you finally understand why you wake-up drenched in pools of red blood clots sliding down your legs and after another doctor spreads your thighs shoves his hands up your vagina and stuffs gauze into the remains of your cervix until the bleeding starts again one week later forces you to pull length upon length of bloody cotton from your womb how did you not scream? and after this you crawl on hands and knees soaked in sweat beg the prison nurse please please i still bleed this is not normal and after all this your throat still closes around your screams can't quite push out the pain of lying on your back shackled to a stretcher and after this you swallow silence like the motrin doctors give you to cure your cancer knowing your cervix will never be whole and after all this when you find that there are no sounds songs silences to match this terror i'll know not to ask how did you not scream? instead i'll do it for you Last updated March 15, 2005 08:41 PM |
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