Stage 1 Poem by Keri Jopplin

My scar defines most everything about me.

My scar is a badge of honor & it's a badge w/o honor tho I wear it w/ pride. I own it, I carry it, it's mine. It's part of who I am yet........who I am not.

It's a part of my spirit, it's a part of my soul. It's a part of my tears & it's a part of my joy.

It's not my dream, it's not my smile & it's not my laughter. It's not my happiness, it's not my prayer & it's not my wish.......it can make you shallow.

It represents my courage, it represents my fear.

It's part of my beauty & it's my blemish. It's my victory, it's my loss. It's part of my feminity, it represents my womanhood..........it can deceive your eyes.

It's not all of who I am nor is it what I'm not. It's not my dignity, it's not my grace, it's not my faith, it's not my empathy.

My scar is part of me that was taken where life was given. It's part of my wisdom, it's part of my wit. It's part of my empowerment, it's part of my self-esteem.

It represents life & it represents death, it's a measure of my lifeline, it's a measure of my beauty...........it will steal your love.

My scar doesn't define me nor...........does it own me.

My scar is not me...............yet it is all of me.

I am a breast cancer survivor!

Keri Jopplin
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