Vital Signs
We laughed,
in spite of the darkness,
at the circles around your eyes.
and you rolled them
over hand-knitted hats
in the chemo ward,
to cover things we tried to hide.
when I shaved your head
and the last of your hair
fell in your lap, you beamed.
as I showered you,
fresh from surgery,
and you carried your drain
in a floral bag; we joked.
when you unzipped a new breast;
pocketed a new you,
we poked fun at all things false.
but when you smiled from the scanner
a truth was told:
how your bones glow
is beyond the measure of science.
now life is given
its last chance to impress you,
from the bottom of us;
we laugh.
Emma Baines has been writing for many years and published poetry in magazines and journals including The Lampeter Review, Roundyhouse, Cambria and POEM. In 2011, she edited and contributed to The Month had 32 Days, published by Parthian and has read at festivals and events including the Laugharne Weekend. She also travelled to Ireland on the Coracle literary exchange. Emma has has translated work (from Welsh to English) for Menna Elfyn and her own writing has recently been included in installation by glass artist Linda Norris. This year, she has co-founded a writers group in Pembrokeshire and is currently facilitating poetry workshops to create films based on the Women of West Wales for Llangwm Literary Festival