Another Thing I Ought to Be Doing

Another Thing I Ought to Be Doing

by

Marilyn L. Taylor

So now I should be taking special care

of them, is that it? Every month go pat

pat pat—when what they’ve done for me is flat

out zero? Nothing? Case in point: where

were they when I was fourteen, fifteen,

and topographically a putting green?

Not to mention nights when I disgraced

my gender, stuffing tissue paper down

my polo shirt or confirmation gown—

my philosophy on staying chaste

having less to do with things profound

than fear of giving off a crunchy sound.

And now you’re saying, Minister to them!

these very breasts that caused me great gymnasiums

of misery and high humiliation—

Institute a monthly regimen!

meaning I’m to walk my fingers gingerly

around these two molehills in front of me.

Sorry, but my hands have dropped straight down

like baby birds. They will not rise

to the occasion, won’t get organized,

refuse to land on enemy terrain.

They simply twitch and fidget in my lap

as if they sense a booby trap—

As if they hear the moron in my head

insisting that I’ll never be caught dead.

________________________
Many women fail to check their own breasts for suspicious lumps on a regular basis.
- The American Cancer Society

October is breast cancer awareness month. Early detection made my breast cancer easily treatable. I am now ten years cancer free.

I urge you all to have a mammogram if age or history appropriate. And do those self exams !

To learn how to do a Self-Breast Exam Click Here: