Day four of NAPOWRIMO. For Sherry’s Prompt at Real Toads
The Scar
“As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” Anthony Bourdain
The Scar starts just below my navel and
goes all the way down to my pubis.
the doctor gutted me like a fish
and cut out and scraped out all the nasty bits
containing the cancer.
He glued it back together with that glue
the military uses in the field for the wounded.
My husband often traces it with his lips.
It’s like a tattoo of life, he says.
I smile and agree with him.
kanzen sakura 
Apr 03, 2019 @ 22:53:55
Sounds like your husband loves you very much.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 03:01:34
there is so much in this… it moves in me, unsettling…
Apr 04, 2019 @ 10:00:48
A tattoo of life…….a wise and loving husband. I am so glad the doctor got every bit, Toni.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 11:48:40
I did chemo for a bit to make sure. And yes, my husband is very loving and wise.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 10:41:16
Scratched like a memory….
Apr 04, 2019 @ 11:40:37
I’m so moved by this. So well captured.
Pat
Apr 04, 2019 @ 11:49:26
Thank you Pat. LOL, I frequently look at this tattoo and I am amazed
Apr 04, 2019 @ 13:34:39
A fabulous way to look at it :)) I might just use that some day for one of my patients:))
Pat
Apr 04, 2019 @ 13:54:01
It is an excellent way to look at it. The whole situation from beginning to end was hard. But the scar reminds me I am alive and healed, a true life tattoo
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Apr 04, 2019 @ 16:56:35
Amen to that!!!
Apr 04, 2019 @ 12:16:38
Scars are evidence of healing.. and a measure of what life is worth.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 13:53:23
You have a loving and caring husband 🙂 such a heartfelt write ❤️
Apr 04, 2019 @ 13:54:18
Yes. I am blessed
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Apr 04, 2019 @ 15:01:50
Beautiful Toni. You are surely blessed.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 15:40:03
What a wonderful description of a difficult time in your life. And also that you have been able to look at it in such a beautifully healing way. Hard to find words to appreciate this eye opening poem.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 16:21:05
Thank you. You got it.
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Apr 04, 2019 @ 18:04:20
Oh my gosh, this is AWESOME!!!
Apr 04, 2019 @ 18:42:50
I’m glad that scars form only on living flesh! Bravo!
Apr 05, 2019 @ 00:53:40
Wonderful, Toni. That is a very important scar. I too have glue, ceramic glue what ever that is. My arterial stent graft inside my abdominal artery aneurysm developed a leak. My cardiologist repaired it using a “ceramic wrap.” I hope for you that your fix will be for the rest of your normal life as I hope my stent doesn’t leak again for another eighteen years. But since they worked inside my arteries, left and right, there is no scar.
..
Apr 05, 2019 @ 08:20:15
What a wonderful piece of writing, going from the raw and uncompromising – ‘the doctor gutted me like a fish’ etc. – to the beautifully tender, intimate and life-affirming conclusion.
Apr 05, 2019 @ 18:11:07
A tattoo of life. I like that, fren.
Apr 05, 2019 @ 18:32:03
Thanks fren
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Apr 05, 2019 @ 20:29:20
This is a very moving poem, with a loving husband standing behind it.
Apr 05, 2019 @ 22:35:01
Yes he is.
Apr 10, 2019 @ 18:17:54
the “miracle” starts just below your navel… Yes, beautiful!
Apr 10, 2019 @ 18:26:45
Thank you Margaret. It reminds me every day that there are no ordinary moments or things in life.