Metastasize;
an awkward word,
vowels lurking with malice
between those rock hard t’s
and stumbling past that sinister s,
into that endless z…
Even educated women know;
the seeds of broken dreams will gather
nearest to the heart
and grow
until the Gardener’s sharpened shears
snip away the wretched, rotted root.
That puckered rose, that brutal scar,
my brave and beautiful friend;
wear it as a medal:
triumphant, survivor, heroine!
– Cindy Taylor
© 2008 – 2011, poem and portrait (below), Cindy Taylor, All rights reserved
Photo credit ~ MesserWoland via Wikipedia under CC BY A-SA 3.0 Unported License
TAKEN TOO YOUNG
Minnie Julia Riperton (1947-1979), American singer-songwriter: In January 1976 Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a modified radical mastectomy. Though she was given just six months to live, she continued recording and touring, and in 1977 she became spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. Riperton was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, but did not disclose that she was terminally ill. In 1978, Riperton also received the prestigious Society’s Courage Award presented to her at the White House by then-President Jimmy Carter. She died at age 31 on July 12, 1979.
A VOICE SILENCED TOO SOON
Listen:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
CINDY TAYLOR ~ originally contributed this piece to us in 2011 for our Perspectives on Cancer series. She is multitalented: a freelance writer, a poet, editor and proofreader. She also has an abiding passion for food and an endearing zeal for life, which she shares with us on her award-winning blog, The Only Cin. Cindy lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The BeZine 
This is such a heartfelt, meaningful and elequent piece, Cindy. We had to bring it forward again. Thank you!
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I remember hearing this song on the radio and being absolutely blown away by Riperton’s ability to soar 2 octaves up on a beautifully clear tone. I was in junior high. I don’t remember being aware of her work with cancer, but that was about the time when my grandmother had a double mastectomy. My mother had one, too, 28 years ago; she’s active, traveling, cancer-free and unencumbered by any prosthesis as well. Her shape is unusual, but she’s in good shape. 🙂
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Breast cancer. It seems, except for a much lesser number of cases in men, that is belongs to us. I wonder just why. I could come up with esoteric reasons but we do die in battle this way.
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A very powerful poem and one that indeed needed to be shared again with the world.
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This is a stunning piece. Beautifully conceived. I loved Minnie Riperton and used to sing some of her songs…wat=y back when and was devastated when she died. Thank you for writing this.
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Cindy, a wonderful poem. IMHO it gives a much better and richer perspective than all the battle language metaphors often used in cancer stories.
This poem goes well with the book ‘Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way’ by Susun S. Weed.
Many blessings,
Paula
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Cindy so stunning ❤
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