Lymphoma could
live in his skin
like a creature crawling
in sacred places,
she thought
it should be forbidden
she searches online
“types of lymphoma”
pictures appear resembling
dark mountains
she asks him each morning
how are you?
he keeps saying he is “fine.”
she’s awake until 4 am—
she comes up with a plan
1. how to nurse him back to health,
2. how to save his skin.

Bio: Palmer Smith is a current MFA student at Columbia University and an MA student at Middlebury College in Vermont. Her writing has been featured in Harness Magazine, Literary Yard and Thought Catalog. As a Scottish girl,  she wears 55 SPF. 🙂   Her email is: ssmith6ATgm.slc.edu