Hela Cell
(for Henrietta Lacks)
just a small portion remains
a little part of us
we leave with our children
a mélange of hair and eyes
locks of hair ashes in vials
in grandmother’s old chifferobe
the smells of mothballs and liniment
turpentine and calamine
hair grease cooking
a straightening comb
right through to the root
back in the kitchen
spider skillets crock pots
dish water dripping
into a foot tub beneath the sink
dumping it out the back door
did not call a plumber
just keep sweeping
and using the albums cover
as dust pan
this obituary is only
a piece of paper
the funeral only
a service
the repast only
social
the part remains
makes me laugh
cry proud to be
what LACKS remain
Robert Gibbons
