SKIN DEEP

a poem by Colette

Victorious in battle

            that’s what my name means.

but I keeps it clean

Got on that cancers saddle

            rode it / told it             Get Gone!

Harnessed the ability to not only survive

            but thrive

Got on the list of Deans

            Triple degree education

Living / Dying / Trying            Since I was 17

            and before

it seems

It doesn’t matter if you’re secular

            singular / plural

Christian / Buddhist / Monk / skunk

            Black / White

punk

Muslim / Jewish / blue-ish

We’re All Just Bones

            and in the root of our bone marrow

not alone

We’re all connected.