Drought

Cancer marches in
takes up residence in my mind
and my heart
 and my body
takes a breath
puts one foot in front of the other
does the next right thing
Priorities are over-rated

Treatments rally
soldiers in an assembly line
Slice, dice, chop, drop
poke, prick, zap, drip, pop
poison, rinse, swish, swallow
carve a hollow
space for time
this now on a rhythm
of its own
Schedules are over-rated

Take a number
effects exceed
any and all anticipations
cast asunder, scrambling
against a slow and steady
relentless trickster
pounding, overwhelming
Drugs are over-rated

Saddle up
thus begins the wild ride
crashing, burning,
overturning
preparation
navigation
imagination
Sensation is over-rated
Taste is over-rated
Hair is over-rated
Sleep is over-rated

Huddle up
Hunker down
look these two familiar strangers in the eye
& recognize them for the imposters that they are
abandon the myth of equal exchange of services
Ask for help
Accept it
Express gratitude and mean it
Be honest
refuse the seductions of bravery
minimizing
awkward moments
pep talks
platitudes
feigned interest & worse
Collaboration is over-rated

Cancer marches in
takes up residence in my mind
and my heart...
and my body learns
new "tolerances"
Euphemisms are over-rated

This Special Day

this special day carried my son's words

breathed the sound of leaves

ocean

rain

shimmering 

 in a sweet, clean bowl

one smooth stone

stillness

hope

this special day leans into that sharp edge

looks into that deep well

yields to fear 

and re-birth

celebrates this

fragile, tender

now

of moments given

unfolding