This morning I read a beautiful poem by someone I know who suffers from cancer. I was overwhelmed by her courage, and the wonderful images she had conjured up. It inspired me to write the poem below. (Just in case any reader is concerned that I am the subject of the poem – I am not, thank goodness.)
I shall set beauty
Against this thing,
This gnawing thing,
Against this greedy, gnawing thing
That steals my body, steals my ease,
This greedy, gnawing, agonising thing
That steals my light,
I shall set beauty.
The beauty of an owl’s flight
In the dark night,
The beauty of a gull that glides
Above the endless tides,
The golden beauty, pure and bright,
Of an angel shining with gentle light,
These will defend me in my fight.
And yet the beast grows strong,
It feasts, a glutton,
It swallows all I savour,
It swells, burgeons,
Spawns
As I grow frail
And slowly crumble.
What help is beauty as the end draws near?
Even the gold of angel’s wings cannot stop fear,
The gull soars free while I lie helpless here.
And yet…
It is enough…
Autumn Leaves 
The feelings engendered by this wonderful poem are known also by those who have cared for a cancer patient.
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Dear Bill
Thank you for reading and commenting. You can find the poem that inspired me here (it’s a much better poem than mine).
https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/2018/04/24/feathers-napowrimo-24/#comments
I’m sad that you have known these emotions as a carer for a cancer patient.
With best wishes
Penny
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You’ve captured so many deep emotions here. breathtaking Penny.
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Dear Ivor
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad that the emotions came across to you.
With very best wishes
Penny
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B. E. A. U. T. I. F. U.L. With a huge capital B.
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Dear Kelvin
That’s a really lovely comment. Thank you.
I’m not a poet – in my fiction, I aim for the most prosaic of prose. But some things can only be said in poetry, and that was one of them. I’m delighted that you thought it was beautiful.
With very best wishes
Penny
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