'Chemotherapy' by Mary McCallum and 'In the corner of my mind, a boy' by Frankie McMillan

Chemotherapy by Mary McCallum



who knew she was
there

hidden
inside that thing that turns

her girl upside
down and inside out

(poison, really, a
small inefficient

killing field) let
loose in a body still

young enough to
smell of milk

in the morning, one
the mother must

return to sit
beside and stand over

to stroke the soft
cheek, catch the soft

vomit, be steel to
all that