Your body is gossiping about you
Unburdening your secrets to a complete stranger: me
This is what I see
The teeth marks of your first youngin’ have tattooed your breast
But your first son may not be your last son because
Swollen feet are pouring out of your sandals straps
The mountain on your torso is growing bigger down to your thighs
I want to say congratulations and ask you why you are always alone on your doctor’s appointments
Is the piece of jewelry on your left hand’s finger not the proof that there should be two of you?
I should mind my own business but…
Your body is gossiping about you
Unburdening your secrets to a complete stranger: me
This is what I see
Your backbone isn’t hoisting you up any more than
The gravity is pulling you down
Loss is written all over your sulking face
And your shaved head tells me that you
are grieving.
I want to give you a hug
But there is a thick wall of pain pushing me away every time I come close
Your body is gossiping about you
Unburdening your secrets to a complete stranger: me
This is what I see
You are asking the world so many questions
Like; How do you prepare for loss that erases the expectations you carried for 9 months?
Only to hear your womb say ‘’oops’’ ‘’false alarm’’?
False alarm? Is that all you can say- what about me?
What will I say to my husband who was waiting to pass down his name to another generation
Who will I sing songs to knowing my voice is a lifeline
What will I do with the room prepared only for you
How will I explain to my first son that I am not coming back home with his baby sister
These are the questions written all over your face.
Your body is gossiping about you
Unburdening your secrets to a complete stranger: me
This is what I see
You are slipping in and out of the church pews
Walking out of offices that belong to therapists and psychiatrists
Looking for answers that will put you to rest
Sometimes you linger for so long at the window pane of a kids store
Or stare at a mother and her children laughing at the mall
Reminding you of the future you said goodbye to
These fragile moments in the streets send you straight back home
If I didn’t see you the next day I would be sure the grief consumed you whole
Years later
Your body is still gossiping about you
Unburdening your secrets to a complete stranger: me
This is what I see
Where fresh scars were are slowly healing wounds
Recovery never looked so good
Your limp has a bounce to it that wasn’t there before
When I’m lucky I catch the wonder of your face
Contouring at the edges of your mouth
As your skin folds around the corners of your eyes
Are you smiling?
And…
Is there a part of the story that I missed
Where hope sat by your side and gave you a kiss?
Don’t tell me
I’ll keep watching,
As your body does the talking
To a complete stranger like me-
I wonder what’s next for me to see.
Click below to watch full poem on you tube
I remember this poem at the Grandslam. Well written and recited as well that day…So good