Growing
“Cancer.” Those effected feel it while
Witnessing life toppling before their eyes,
Clearing everything and
Making its path. And me,
Seeing my dad living with it:
Hoping desperately and clinging to life.
Cancer made me begin
Taking the responsibilities of the family seriously:
Driving siblings to school,
Helping mother with extra chores.
Working hard and
Running fast to stay ahead of the
Cancer that quickly encroached into our happy lives;
Coming to haunt us as we sat
Pleading with the darkness that is no longer
Shedding light on the future we saw so clearly.
Breaking us, molding us, shaping us as the
Cancer runs through my father.
Yet he lives today:
Eating healthy
Working hard
Persevering
Keeping it at bay.
Cancer allowed me to begin
Facing reality
Taking responsibility.
Turning my eyes to gratitude.
Bringing fear into my life so that God could take it away.
Cancer is
Killing,
Consuming,
Molding,
Changing, and
Hurting all who are affected by it.
Cancer is a deadly thing that tests the human mind, heart, and soul.