Lessons

Important lessons come from the least likely of places... Written while thinking of my mother who died two years ago come the 28th of September.

It began as a 3cm lump,

Which grew into a lifetime of lessons and memories.

I was eight when my mom said,

"Baby, I have cancer."

Cancer?

To my young mind I thought it a monster,

And wished to slay it with my arsenal of stuffed animals and GI Joes

For hurting my mother.

But over time the truth sunk in,

And soon I found myself possessing knowledge

That those only twice or three times my age possessed.

I learned how much a second-too-long stare can hurt

And how to comfort and protect those I care about.

I learned of sickness

And how to help those I love.

Ultimately I learned of death,

And how to enjoy the time we have.

Through this I took comfort in an angel who,

With a pink ribbon cross tattoo

And a missing breast,

Taught me how to smile when times were darkest.

Through her and her cancer I learned lessons,

Both good and bad

Of pain and laughter,

While watching cartoons after a cemo session.

Of tears and love,

While she held me after telling me it had come out of remission.

"Remember when the sun's shinning down, that's the warmth of my love,

And the rain is me helping to wash away your pain."

It was her goodbye to me two years ago.

And they are still etched into my heart, for I will never forget

Neither the love given by an angel,

Or the hard lessons I now cherish.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I watch cancer kill a family member. It is a lesson in many ways. I pray for the cure for cancer. Your story is very sad and beautiful. Some lessons teach us to appreciate the people we love and appreciate every moment with them. Thank you for the story.
Coyote

[Pax Analog]

Strong stuff. Looking pain, debilitation, death in the eye. Angel indeed, courage of Light, for if we are not that, we are nothing. And all from that primal matrix, mother.

Radical guru Adi Da wrote in a poem: "Who is not Light Itself/performs the murder/of everything while we eat."

I notice too, your quotes on profile pg. in support of different aspects of courage.

I salute your "hard lessons I now cherish" -- it has even inspired me to persevere.

[Leran Vakem]

This piece has cut deep to my soul, as I hope it will for all those who read it. Life has some hard lessons in store for us, and like you said "both good and bad". The truth in this piece comes form the heart.
There is much I can say about this piece, but thank you

Leran Vakem