Someone since has sinned –
Who’s a saint,
Who’s a sane man.
Shouting profanities at his misfortune
Jesting, crossing himself in a bathhouse.
He’s Jewish.
Someone crosses a street
Seriously contemplating sinning
Coming home, shirt thrown sloppy to the side
Hitting a wall with his bare fist, swearing,
Bleeding, with no one to wrap the wound.
Sin will have to wait.
Disease scraping the insides of veins
Erasing prior pale complaints.
Who’s a saint?
Who’s a sinner?
Doesn’t matter now.
Both bleed passion-blood.
Copyright 2011 Liya Khenkin
About Liya & Alexander: Together for over 20 years, Liya and Alexander have two beautiful children together. Liya lived over 8 years with Metastatic Breast Cancer. 8 years during which she maintained her life and balances work and family life. She used art and writing as an escape, and we are honored that her husband has shared her stories (and his art) with us. We hope this Life Beyond Breast Cancer tribute is an inspiration to other couples living with this disease.
Marcela Shine is Founder of Avanzar Ventures, Business Manager of The Tutu Project and an advisor to the Carey Foundation. Her company, Avanzar Ventures, has been supporting the project by providing operational, social media and technical implementation strategy since the inception of the project.