what did we ever know about your sacrifice

you were born to it

like a calico quilt

you carried it so long and never showed it

until the end

I never understood

the day you cooked the spaghetti dinner

you told us of the cancer

it was easy to remedy you said

no need to worry you said

but it was not easy and

death came too close

your life was written before you lived it

a curse from all sides Chinois

like it was not their fault

but it was

you suffered their prejudice

inside and silent

you the woman child

glued to a man always scheming

for the greener grass

that was never greener

you made the best of it

and then you were gone

Don’t wait to tell the people that you love that you love them