African Voices Spring 2020 AVSPRING2020 | Page 27

in my heart I know
tiddies ain’t everything
i still got a heart a soul and a brain
two legs that walk without a cane
and a girlfriend who says
“with the one you have left… and the one I have left
they make a nice pair of tiddies”
the girls/ who work with me say
you’re a hundred years old
with only one breast
and the men still chase you
retire/ give us a chance
he didn’t come back after the silk roses/because
he thought I was gonna die
and he cldnt handle that
it’s good I work at the library
i found it/ a book called cancer husbands
some stay/ some go
i told him to go/ to hell
tiddies ain’t everything
i still got a heart a soul and a brain
and fond memories of my Sicily
the taste of ice cold chocolate gelatos
butterscotch sunflowers bathing in the moonlight
my mother’s prayers still praying to Black Madonna
every blessed night
my daughter’s smile permanently tattooed to my existence
my doctor’s voice on the answering machine
hello my beautiful lady, the results are in
they are beautiful, just like you
i
understand now
the rhythm of my breath/ the vibration of my vocal chords
rejoicing
i am alive/ i am alive/ i am alive
© 2011 Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin (revised 2019)
Sara strongly suggests that if your organization does not have the option of sick time
donation, that you request it. It was not in place during the time of her diagnosis, however
because of her experience others at her job can now benefit from donated sick time.
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