-notations from the survivor-

1.

we breathed into our lungs the spiked
particles of asbestos

suspended in the air from the shingles

of our houses and inhaled the exhaled
tar-thickened smoke of our fathers and our uncles.

some of us didn’t make it.

for those of us who did, they put mercury

into our teeth and lead in our pencils and although

most of us survived the fickle wheel of fate
there were many among us who didn't survive.

2.
doctor practitioner said thalidomide would lessen

the symptoms of her morning sickness.   

he told her:

“just get a good night’s sleep”.

our mothers would come to quietly admonish
those of us who made it of the impoliteness in gawking 
at those of us who didn’t.