In Unspoken Ink, one of our most popular programs here at Cactus Cancer Society, our participants write in response to prompts, ranging from pictures to quotes to poetry. We are proud to share the work of our writers here on our blog, including this piece, which is part of a series entitled Fresh Ink.
We value the voices of our community members and would love to share your words. If you would like to contribute to our blog here at Cactus Cancer Society, please email christina@cactuscancer.org.Â
The Jellyfish by Katey Girard
Please ebb and flow around me
Like Sunday afternoon traffic
Like there’s nothing to do
And so much time to do it in.
Please
Don’t see me as an other
Don’t notice the ways my tentacles stretch beside me
Or that my organs don’t
Glow the way they used to.
Please. I’m not a pretender.
I’m not an intrusion.
I’m not some small and delicate membrane.
I can sting too, but not the way you do.
Please, push past me.
Let your fingertips skate over skin in passing, without biting
I am fluid.
I am the spaces between jellyfish
The warm water where they cluster
The hollow in your heart where something holy once was.
Katey Girard has so far survived breast cancer and teaching high school English for 10 years. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two adorable cats. You can find her on Instagram at @kgirardreads.Â
