Rise and Rally

Oh, cancer, you are persistent.

        You attack, young and old alike.

Yes, the list is long of those you have taken.

        But know this,

We rise and rally against you.

With candles and ribbons and tears,

        we stand in memory of those who have fought.

With prayers and science and hands held together,

        we stand by those who face the battle now.

With laughter and hugs and thankfulness,

        we stand with the survivors who are the veterans.

These Heroes All,
have shown us pain, frustration and fear.

But more than that, they have shown us

        the strength of faith,
the grin and grit of courage,
the gleam of hope,
the restfulness of peace

and the unconquered soul

that leads us to

Rise and Rally.

Miss You

I walk tall, undefeated,

Yet the wind tries to push me down,

To hunch low, retreat into my coat of thoughts.

Grit stings my eye, blurring the world.

I fall…

    ...no one catches me

        ...miss you.

I fall hard, awkwardly,

And the pavement bites my palms,

Burns my knee, the armor of faith groans.

Heart pounds hard, frustrated and mad.

I cry…

    ...no words of comfort

        ...miss you

I rise slow, carefully,

From a tree, a red cardinal chirps, “Hey.”

Warming sun, touches my salty cheek.

Although not here, you are with me..

I sigh…

    ...your message received

        ...miss you.

Bailey's Moon

No world wide trip

or big house with a large tub.

The kid’s pool has patches

and the yard looks like hell.

Yet, I try to tap out a few words

in the low moonlight

hoping that some day I can

just give you more.

And just when I feel I have lost

when my shoulders slump.

You, my angel, my wonderful,

say “I love you.”

Those words hold belief and strength.

I roll my shoulders and sigh,

cinch the knot and ready the rope.

Swirling it, I go to lasso Bailey’s Moon.

To Heidi, for 21 years and more.