When You See Me

^{_{When you see me}}

^{_{do you see the lines on my face from the times I've laughed}} 

^{_{do you see the bags under my eyes from the times I've cried}}

^{_{do you see the golden hues on my skin}} 

^{_{or do you see the grey hairs growing in}}

^{_{do you see the strength}}

^{_{or do you see the weight}}

^{_{do you see me grinding, working, sweat dripping from my face}}

^{_{or do you see me struggling, failing, and flirting with fate}}

^{_{do you see my flaws}}

 ^{_{or do you see my scars}}

^{_{do you see a sister, a wife, a mother}}

^{_{do you see a breast cancer survivor}}

^{_{did you look at my breasts}}

^{_{do you know that I know you did}}

^{_{do you know how many shirts I tried on}}

^{_{do you know how many didn't fit}}

^{_{do you know that underneath this shirt}}

^{_{I don't fit}}

^{_{you know that every woman is made differently}}

^{_{so every surgery is as unique as she}}

^{_{severing her pride and burning her beauty}}

^{_{leaving her searching to replace}}

 ^{_{what cancer attempted to erase}}

^{_{do you see me now}}

^{_{the scared woman healed}}

^{_{my strength revealed}}

^{_{my beauty radiating through}}

^{_{my chemotherapy kissed skin}}

^{_{the curves in my hair like the curves of my quads}} 

^{_{pushing me through of every jerk and twist}}

^{_{weighing it out risk after risk}}

^{_{do you see me now and now do you see}}

^{_{when it comes to this coveted breast}}

^{_{off the shelf needs to be reassessed}}

^{_{because if I’m going to live well and be blessed}}

^{_{then I’m going to need a custom prosthesis}}

Order Renee's poem: "When you see me" in an 18"x24" print on our store today. 

Every purchase includes a signed note from Renee.