My mother was-- both my parents were epileptic.
My mother had grand mal seizures,
and my father had petit mal seizures.
Both my parents had brain tumors,
and my mother felt that her brain tumor
was a result of her being--
she died at 44, mind you, and she
was celibate for the last 20 years of her life.
And this is "the message of thelma sayles."
"Baby, my only husband turned away.
For 20 years, my door was open.
Nobody ever came.
The first fit broke my bed.
I woke from ecstasy to ask what blood is this?
Am I the bride of Christ?
My bitten tongue was swollen for three days.
I thrashed and rolled from fit to death.
You are my only daughter.
When you lie awake in the evenings,
counting your birthdays, turn the blood
that clots on your tongue into poems.
Poems."