1/10. DO NOT RECOMMEND! (Poem)

Hey y’all!

The writing prompt for Day 24 of National Poetry Writing Month is to write a poetic review of something that isn’t normally reviewed. For example, your mother-in-law, the moon, or the year you were ten years old.

Here is my poem:

1/10. DO NOT RECOMMEND!

By Farah Lawal Harris, © 2023

Alas! My review

of the year 2022.

I’d give it a 1/10,

do not recommend.

The first course was a sensation,

full great expectations.

Second course—I was offered the choice

of using my voice

or selling my dignity for an hourly fee.

I chose to tell oppressors to kiss

the back side of me

and danced off in victory.

But suddenly,

I started to bleed

and bleed

and bleed.

Fibroid tumors raged angrily;

followed by two removal surgeries

and negative biopsy.

Too full to consume anything else,

I asked for the check.

Self-check in the shower

revealed a too tough to digest

spiritual test—

the final course called

“cancer in breast.”

This dessert left me deeply depressed

with no time to heal,

but plenty to fear.

I ran home to God

and prayed for a better new year.

Follow my advice—

don’t ever eat here!