'The Dent,' an Ode to Cancer Scars

The Dent

There's a dent in my chest

it's there, it's just there

I see it every morning

I imagine in the night

it becomes a very dark place

where sadness goes to hide

perhaps sadness brings family

and they fill the dent with tears

perhaps they warm themselves

by a campfire

popping toasted marshmallows

down their throats

to muffle the chattering of teeth

perhaps the dent is sadness itself

wishing it had friends

This poem was originally submitted for the CURE® 2021 Poetry Contest.

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