| “ I am the mummy leg,” he rasped Eyes red rimmed Shining with an 8 year olds tears Fears “They call me the mummy leg” he choked Unsure if he should announce the name as a joke or a Cruel punishment deemed necessary by his peers For being different That summer Wearing a lime green cast On his leg Fo not breaking it while skating, or falling out of a tree For having surgery anyway Repeating again and again to the curious “I had something inside that had to come out is all” Thinking silently Cinnamon freckled brow crinkled It’s not cancer though They said it wasn’t Never saying that out loud Fearing the solemn weight of the grownup eyes Pressing down Holding in the tears until they brimmed Sometimes spilling over Growing up In one tiny Heartbeat When you heard the Doctor say to your parents, the wall, and an x-ray “I don’t think it's cancer but lets do a bone scan, MRI and bloodwork anyway” Learning in one heartbeat that dreams can take second place to reality Those carefree dreams of summer swimming and chasing fireflies flickered like candle light in the breeze Just that fast Puffs of dandelion seeds on the wind Scattering Pure childish abandon became unavailable Shelved for another time When you heard the words “It might be cancer” instead of laughter The summmer you became the mummy leg By Sheryl McCurdy |
| POETRY |
| PHOTO BY : BAREWALLS.COM |
THE SUMMER OF THE MUMMY LEG |
| Mummers Dance - Loreena McKennitt |
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