I listen on halves
to the instructor
Cancer genes,
cancer viruses,
cancer cures?
Faces float past,
the grandfather,
I watched die
nearly six years ago
slowly slipping away form me
his own body turned against him
cancer ridden
wanting to die at home.
crying and praying for him to find peace
Nana
courageous survivor,
breast cancer,
easily removed
never returning to haunt her.
the skin cancer on Poppy's forehead,
so many skin grafts
so scarred.
the fear in a freind's eyes
when she said she may have to
go back to chemo.
Watching a family nearly self destruct
while they wait
to see if thier son will survive
golf ball sized tumors
being removed from his brain
by skillful surgeons.
My best friend calling me
'Pray for my family'
when cancer had overtaken one of hers.
And I worry,
what if someday it is me?
If this disease overtakes me
will I wish for death?
Will others cry so hard?
I am here because of these things
these faces
these people
this disease.
For them I decided to take on this damn school
and to make a difference.
I long to save anyone the pains
I've endured
As I sit here in this class
talking about cancer
its causes
the research
everyone around me falls asleep.
Maybe they have not seen it then
maybe they do not have a storage of pictures
of survivors
and victims.
Maybe that is good for them.
But me all I hear
is the word Cancer
and I know why I am here.

02/21/2002

Posted on 02/21/2002
Copyright © 2024 Amy Niggel