Flesh

You did not call
phone silent
like drowned body
floating in my imagination
the conversation
how did it all turn out
wonder did you even
hear amid your lost-love cries
my panicky, fear,
that I would join
the three women I know
who've lost
breasts, hair, fertility
oh yes, my drama
but cancer does not
decide based on who
imagines it better.

So I wait a week
biopsy punched into skin
of breast and think
and think of God
and think it's nothing
I say little, unlike
usual stream of conscious
complaints, maybe you
didn't hear me
when I said
they took part of my flesh
my breast
my womanhood threatened
my life for the first time

I realize that all
we are headed for
in the end is death

you must not have heard
or else would have
yes, you would have asked
my silent wire across
the short distance of one street
energized by you,
you would have called

but maybe what I said was
wolf, wolf, oh yes,
you've ignored me
when I was sure
you would have called.