Cancer wears a hospital gown of blue and white
Ties on the back, pitifully masking a small loss of dignity
Like somehow thin ribbons will make it all okay
Cancer, Where’s it hurt?
Cancer wears a headband, a hat, a bandana
Protection from the blurry faces who watch you like they know your story
Cancer, Where’s the hospital? Everything looks different at 2AM
Cancer wears a sickly smile pasted to your face
Keeping from everyone how completely you hurt , every moment of every day
Cancer, Where’s the g****** nurse?
Cancer wears pink scars of surgery and panic, of scalpels and overwhelming fear
Cancer, Where’s the thank you cards for the gifts and “get wells”?

Cancer wears, always, a faded blanket with hope sewed into its worn and familiar stitches