by M. Joseph

Created on: September 23, 2007

Renegades spreading through out
Unstoppable for her
Her kidneys, liver, and spine shout
As they are attacked, besieged, devoured.
But calmly she lays, reflecting silently
On 83 years lived in health.
A once strong woman, a government official
Once in charge of departments
Her words written changing to rules,
Now lays in bed, subject to the rules of usurpers.
She doesn't mind though.

I feel that I am the only one
Between the two of us
Who fears the coming separation
The time of mourning and tears slowly nears.
For now I help as much as I can,
If she lets me I sit by her side.
These renegade cells might appear to win
But there is no victory for the disease when she dies.
Serenely she sleeps throughout the night
Softly she breaths through the hours, days, weeks
Simply she lives out her final hours
Not worried about the fate she meets.
Cancer is such a passive word
With soft consonants and vowels
Its sound can not describe the vile job it names.
I wonder why I am upset though
When its clear that she does not.
It is because I know there is no going back
No treatment to give
It is because I'm losing her
The only grandparent I have.
With her solace I shall take mine,
With her peace I shall calm my trepidation,
It is a time to be glad that I have her still,
We will live pretending the insurgents aren't there
And life will go on, they will not stop it,
Except for that brief moment when soul leaves body
And we are left with a corps to bury.
The renegades spread throughout, but bring their own sudden death.

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