After reading Penny Rutterford's write-up of my walk: An Intimate Tour of Breasts in the Huffington Post blog , as Penny begins and ends with Kylie, I thought I'd share a poem I wrote about Kylie (a triolet, no less, which is, IMHO, a thankless form).
When I was told I would be having chemotherapy, I was desperately seeking some positives – role models, or even women who hadn't died. Enter Kylie. I found an interview with her, in which she described her trips to swim in the ocean between chemo sessions. Armed with this, I informed my surgeon and consultant that I too would be swimming between my chemo sessions in the lido, 'like what Kylie did.' They didn't contradict me. When it came to it, on my very first chemo, unable to locate a vein after seven attempts, I was given a Pic-Line, which, on the positive side, meant no more needles for either taking things out or putting them in – a boon for the needle-phobe. On the downside, it meant I had to keep dry for the entire hot summer. Not so lucky.
I later heard Kylie on Desert Island Discs, where she spoke of the responsibility of being a role model for other women with breast cancer. It is a tough and unasked for role, and I think she has handled it with dignity and sensitivity.
I looped your song inside my head.
Lucky, you chirruped; Lucky, I said.
They tapped my vein, you know the rest.
and held your legend to my breast.
An Intimate Tour of Breasts is available as a guided walk – in London, or other venues by commission. Please contact me for further details, or if you would like to book.
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