Cancer Of The Cervix

her husband left her
when their kids were just
a matter
of three, four, five years

she had to feed
them alone with the use
of her very own flesh

literally. i mean it.

all daughters went
to Japan and danced.

they married and
got rich.

and then she wore
an expensive jewelry

on her hands and
ears

and then he wrote
a letter saying that

he likes to come
back. She
opened her arms
to hug him.

i went to manila
and spent my
life there
in three days.

attending to her
wake
offering prayers
for her
dead and wasted
body.

i am learning
in that place
what is betrayal
what is forgiveness
what is reconciliation

what is death
what is it to be lost in a crowd
what is it to be left alone

what is cancer?
and they always say the truth
there is no cure.

may she rest in peace.
amen.

poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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