For today’s prompt, write a visitor poem. The poem can be from the point of view of a visitor – or the people receiving the visitor.  The visitor could be expected or unexpected.  The visitor could be welcome or unwelcome. The visitor doesn’t even have to be human.  The poem can be from the point of view of a visitor–or the people receiving the visitor. The visitor could be expected or unexpected. The visitor could be welcome or unwelcome. The visitor doesn’t even have to be human.

deep inside of me
just below the surface
a cell, millions of cells
replicate themselves with neither thought
consideration nor announcement
this duplication - carbon copy
is as old as the universe itself
atoms molecules nuclei
spinning gases of everything confined
by gravity and powerful forces
that i know
and yet do not.

without warning
courtesy or announcement
a visitor without an appointment
no pass no papers no invitation
one cell among millions
asserts its independence
perhaps a jailbreak from the monotony
of perfection
this miracle manifested as
everything that i am
making itself anew different
an infinitesimal presence
preening, gloriously conceited
longing desiring
itself.

that cell now millions of cells
an ancient marauder hell-bent
on laying claim to everything
i am and am not
has a name and even a stage
a grand proscenium
that includes organs entrails and lymph nodes
one cell millions of cells
blurring the line between who i am
and who i am not.

i am not cancer
i am not an endless chorus of test results
i am not a hairless dome of chemo
i am not nausea
i am not night sweats or chills

i am not catheters pick lines or tubes
i am not the patient in room fill in the blank


i am
millions of cells
replicating themselves with love and intention
i am enduring friendship and affection
i am a keepsake photo frayed at the edges
i am your favorite song movie color food
i am your perfect prom date
i am the first time you fell in love

deep inside of me just below the surface
i am atoms molecules nuclei
spinning gases of everything -
the entire universe -
whole and perfect
and free of gravity
and powerful forces
you know.