humerus

after the cancer

ate in to

her left humerus

she lost her

sense of humour

she had avoided

operations

node removals

as a writer

never sure

she could give up

the use of her left arm

for any length of time

6 weeks, 6 months, a year

what now?

destined to become

a one armed bandito

tip tap typing

alone?

she thought often of Frida

the operations, amputations,

corsets, perambulations,

angles of beds, mirror, paints

being transported to her exhibition

triumphant in a small bed

don’t speak to me

about radiation poisoning

afraid it may reach you

from Japan

put the iodine back on the shelf

send your money to the red cross

who will surely help the survivors

 

my head throbs

skin burns hot and cold

bones ache

insides shake

this is radiation ‘treatment’

to save, salve,

salvage, stave, stove

my spinacular molecules

i pray for the people of Japan

new zealand

living and dead

offer a moment

of peace

yesterday

today

tomorrow

into the uncertainty

of our

future.