C-A-N-C-E-R
Is a curse word
As much as any of the words you were taught on the playground and on the school bus
Whispered in hushed tones
"Guess what? I know a worse one!"
But in the real world
You can spit those like bullets from a gun
And drop as many f-bombs as you please
And no one asks you to get down on your knees

But if you say C-A-N-C-E-R

You get assaulted by a hundred fleeting looks
A hundred pairs of eyes which quickly flick back toward their books
The pity in their depths which
Hurts more than the suspension of your phone
Cause you called someone a name worse than "witch"
And that kind of behavior isn't condoned

Though C-A-N-C-E-R
Is a whispered one
Spoken on few tongues
I never have I known a word to get so much attention
Not even one that can give a suspension

Do you hear that sound?

C-A-N-C-
Shhhh! There are children around