because pink is no longer guiltless or cheerful

i wish pizza boxes and
pink ribboned socks actually cured cancer

i wish walking this mile and sending this
smile on instagram made chemo cheerier

i wish promises of whatever i can do will
be done actually changed diagnoses and extended prognoses

i wish sending this check would
keep remission on commission indefinitely

i wish buying this pink rubber bracelet
linked me to you as your sister, friend, and intercessor

i wish this well designed pr really meant
research to restore this tissue to its pre-cancer sanity

i wish pink was still the color of little
girl things and not grown woman woes and death scares

i wish breast were actually floatation
devices transporting casualties some place not ‘here’

i wish tattoos and reconstruction actually
made you feel like more of a woman

but most of all
i wish wearing this ribbon and adorning
this tee would mean that she could be cancer free
because i would never fucking take it off.

7 Comments Add yours

Abso-freaking-lutely true! Fantastic poem.

Love it and I’d wear those ribbons forever, too, if true 🙂

This is lovely. I love the ending, very powerful sentiment. And I like cussing for effect:)