Home Page     What is Rhabdomyosarcoma     Survivors' Stories     Survival Tips     Family Issues     Books for Kids    
Saying Goodbye     Other Links     Thank you     Link to other home pages     Submit Your Poem

Poems

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

Cancer

Can you but feel my sorrow, can you feel my pain,
or even see my tears falling like rain,
know of the sickness and of the strain,
all of this I must endure again and yet again.

All of the drugs, the chemicals too,
the treatments I go though,
from all those injections,
come bruises often black and blue.

Now I look so different, now often I look strange,
for in this battle my body must change,
to defeat this cruel killer,
my life I must re-arrange.

Cells in my body are me trying to kill,
to win this great fight I must have the will,
your help and love is all that I ask,
to get me though this onerous task.

Every day and every night,
against this cancer I must battle and fight,
while I cry and weep,
this single thought I keep.

Reclaim my life, reclaim my right,
keeps me going night after night,
to live and to love as is my right,
I will not surrender, I will always fight.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

Am I so different

Am I so different because I've lost my hair,
is that the reason you feel a need to stare,
am I so different because of things I cannot do,
does that really make me less normal than you,

Am I so different, so different from you,
is making me uncomfortable a pleasure for you,
if my looks are upsetting to one and all,
just try and remember that my life is no fun at all,

You see me like this and wince as I pass by,
never once do you notice the tear in my eye,
it's not illness or pain that makes me cry,
its your stares and snide comments as I walk by,

So, please, I implore you, take this to heart,
I am truly human, not a species apart,
this illness is my burden, a heavy one too,
if not for a misfortune, this me could be you,

My life is now a battle,
this cancer I must fight,
your cruel and hurtful prattle,
pains me day and night,
instead of pain and sorrow,
give me your smile that's true and bright,
walk with me through each tomorrow,
don't shun me out of fright.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

Where is ....

Where is the compassion,
where is the protection,
said to be forthcoming,
but from what direction,

Where is the justice,
where is the promise,
this vow so lofty and tall,
of help for these children, one and all,

These are just words so readily spoken,
the promises of orators, glib and crass,
as fragile as crystal, flimsy as glass,
all so easily shattered or broken,
great vows uttered, of great aid on offer,
but rarely, or rarely does coinage leave coffer.

So who can be called upon,
when the funds are near dry,
and the search must go on,
upon who can we rely,

Rarely the public officials behind cold walls,
nor often political persons, their parties or groups,
but we the people in our small troops,
raise the monies, and answer the calls
most often by fetes and small stalls,

We are the love and compassion,
giving of ourselves in every fashion,
we are the ones, their tears do dry
the parents and friends, you and I.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

The Little Aussie Battlers

Heroes come and heroes go, always strong, rarely meek,
from day to day, week to week,
a new one rises from among the throng,
their deeds oft told in story and song,
with fete and flourish they are praised,
their name and banner loftily raised,
but 'neath it all, this glory, this light,
their heroic deeds oft born of might,
yet heroes they are and heroes they'll be,
but never as true as those unsung I see,

Little soldiers every one, no sword, rifle nor gun,
they face a foe by day and by night,
in a battle, a war, cruel and merciless fight,
their only wish is for battle done,
for each are someones daughter or son,
these little heroes not the age of a man,
having hardly begun their allotted span,
barely babes in arms they face a foe,
an enemy full with pain and woe,

Young and innocent of this life,
they face a world with horrors rife,
conscripted by fate every one,
their ballads are rarely sung,
some will prevail while others are lost,
their innocence and beauty oft the terrible cost,
paid to neither man nor nation,
they cling hard to hope of salvation,

While those in their gilded halls,
with their fetes, feasts and grand balls,
hear not their pleas nor cries,
as the tears of pain pour from their eyes,
for their hearts are cold, their minds still,
to love these children they have lost the will,
their only thoughts their coffers to fill,
whilst this Cancer does our children so often kill,

So spare a thought ye men of power,
give a little of yourself each hour,
to these soldiers so very small,
show them they are loved by one and all,
save your promises so full of air,
show them you can really care,
no more procrastination,
honour these, the Little Heroes of our Nation
*written in honour of every child, past, present and future who has fought or must fight against Cancer.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

Just for Lorrae............ from Dad.

I dreamt of your hair like ripened corn,
I saw your eyes of wonderful blue,
a smile so sweet, a heart so true,
a daughter I wanted, a proud father for you,
all that I wanted and my wish did come true,

To bath you or feed you was never a chore,
to read you a story, never a bore,
to walk with you, talk with you,
these things we would do,
my love and protection I gave gladly to you
I give them now and forever more,

I've watched you grow, learn wrong from right
watched as you slept on many a night,
these are not a duty but a true fathers' right,
born under the sign that has threatened your life,
these past months have been pain, sorrow and strife,
but right here beside you is where I have been,
that is what being a father really should mean,

To stand by you through thick or through thin,
to keep open my heart to shelter you in,
no matter how difficult, painful or bad,
stressful, depressing or sad,
things always seem brighter when you call me Dad,

I've watched as you battled, suffered and fought,
and screamed with frustration for I could do naught,
to ease you, help you or even take it away,
I sat there helpless day after day
with strength and with courage you found the answer,
to defeat this cruel enemy, this insipid thing called Cancer.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

My Mum is a Survivor

My Mum is a survivor, or so I've heard it said.
But I hear her crying at night when all others are in bed.
I watch her lay awake at night and go to hold her hand.
She doesn't know I'm with her to help her understand.
But like the sands on the beach that never wash away...
I watch over my surviving mum, who thinks of me each day.
She wears a smile for others... a smile of disguise.
But through Heaven's door I see tears flowing from her eyes.
My Mum tries to cope with death to keep my memory alive.
But anyone who knows her knows it is her way to survive.
As I watch over my surviving mom... through Heaven's open door.
I try to tell her that angels protect me forever more.
But I know that doesn't help her or ease the burden she bears.
So if you get a chance, go visit her... and show her that you care.
For no matter what she says... no matter what she feels.
My surviving mum has a broken heart that time won't ever heal!

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page

I feel

I hate watching you lay there so scared and confused.
I just wish there was something that mommy could do.
I know you feel sick and I know you feel scared
but hang in there baby, mommy's here.

Your doing great doing what the doctors say.
Just keep fighting Sadie it will all be over one day.
I feel what your feeling an it doesn't feel good.
We have to keep praying the bible says we should.
I have feelings that I shouldn't say
and when your old enough you can read them someday.

I'm scared and my stomach hurts.
I have a sharp pain shooting through my heart.
Its hard to breath watching you cry.
My tears pore like rain falling from the sky.
Late at night I watch you sleep
and I thank the lord your still here with me.
I always ask and wonder why.. why her god why why why?
I wish I could take the cancer away
and go back to living our lives day by day.
I'm sorry you lost most of your hair.
It will grow back though I promise I swear.
I feel it all with you baby so your not alone
So watch out cancer its Mommy and Sadie an we're bad to the bone.

Return Home     Return to top of page     go to bottom of page