Her Decision Poem by RIC BASTASA

when she discovered that
she had colon cancer
stage 2, she at first had
the usual denial,

'no this cannot be true
for i don't smoke
neither did i eat meat
i did not have
a stressful life' she says.

the discharges of blood
proves her otherwise
her loss of weight
and low red blood cell count
convince her
about this reality

' i accepted this
matter and i did not
want to do anything anymore' she resolves,

'anyway, i am already
68, and had my life
what is the use of
an extension' she continues

on her plate is the fried chicken
a slice of roasted pig,
for her desert a glass of ice cream
and leche flan
all that the doctor says
she must not eat
she eats them now

i guess, i know what she means.