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This week's Poem - offered without comment from me.

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Posted 3/9/2015 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
How to Help A Cancer Victim

First understand
we’re confused
we’re angry
we’re stunned
we’re overwhelmed
we don’t know what we need.

Know you can’t fix it
Know we’ve heard a lot to be frightened of
Know we’re fragile
We just want to be normal again

I know you want to help
I know you want to comfort
I know you fear for me
I know

Don’t be surprised if I respond with anger
Don’t be surprised if I respond with silence
Don’t be surprised if I respond with a joke
Don’t be surprised

Some pain is in the body
Some pain is in the mind
Some pain damages the soul

Help me
I wish to be normal again
I wish to talk to you like we did
I want to hear of your family
of the dog, the cat, the car and your crazy Aunt Sally.

Call me, text me, email me
do normal things with me
a cup of coffee, a day on the beach
a trip to the store, a hug for your old friend.
Posted 3/9/2015 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Lol...I love it. Lol...feels good.

:)
Posted 3/9/2015 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Nailed it, Andrew. Thank you.
Posted 3/9/2015 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Understanding..connecting to the other...is about the best one can ask from this life. And Andrew you certainly succeed, exceed; in doing exactly that with ur writings!!

BenSam
Posted 3/9/2015 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Andrew, you certainly rang my bell with that muse.
Thank you
Posted 3/9/2015 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Another good one, Andrew, as we've come to expect from you.

I especially like the multiple repetitions of phrases in the stanzas, producing a "hammering" effect, to emphasize the speaker's need to see these things accomplished.

Well done.
Posted 3/9/2015 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Nice. Reminded me of my favorite REM song :"The Wrong Child"
Posted 3/9/2015 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the kind words.

I am now down to just five poems left to write for my little cancer poetry book. Hope to have that completed in a couple of weeks.

Andrew
Posted 2/23/2016 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I just decided to bump this post up. Tonight I've been sitting here editing my PC poetry book and got to this one in the collection. I was going to post it when I thought, hmmm, think I've posted that poem before. Turns out I had, but wanted to share it again as the thought of how to help is on my mind again.

Peace, love, and apple crumble,

Andrew
Posted 2/23/2016 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
Andrew,
For me you could not have picked a better time to have bumped this poem, as I just found out that my long time boss, mentor and friend has been diagnosed with end stage ovarian cancer. I was just wondering what I should do for her. Now I know. You'd think living with cancer every day with Gary's PCa, it would be obvious, but it's a little like the forest for the trees.
Beth cry
Posted 2/23/2016 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Andrew, thanks for bumping it up, when you first posted it I was just 2 months past surgery. Don't remember what my reaction was when I read it the first time, I think I was probably still numb.

This time, it really hit home. Between cancer, which seems to be fadinfpg into the background (knock wood), and my new friend, coronary artery disease, all I seem to think about is my health, my diet, my exercise regimen, my family, and my stress level.

So the words "I wish to be normal again" really hit me between the eyes. Because all I wish, is to be normal again.
Posted 2/24/2016 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Beth - it's though to know what to do. The way I found out was going through it.

Prat - I find that every time I read a poem, I get something different out it. Depends where you are at the moment.

Peace,
Andrew
Posted 2/28/2016 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Andrew,
I went back to find your poem from last week, wanted to add my thank you add my comment. It did also hit me like with Prato , to realize just what you said, I do want to be normal again. Finding the new normal with PCa is sometimes overwhelming, thanks for that poem.I try to me more positive than those around me ,and always keep the Faith. Thank you again brother for your words, you are a word-master.

Dan
Posted 2/28/2016 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Dan - thanks for your kind comments. Finding normal is a journey we all end up taking.

I went ahead and post this poem on my blog so a wider audience can see it.

I am still working on editing my PC poetry collection. I've gotten through about 2/3 of it. I am amazed how much work it is to just edit something.

Peace,
Andrew
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