A single scar; not enough to teach me of life,
so a second was added, a twin to the right.
My spirit tripped on fear of untimely death;
afraid to breathe, I fainted from holding my breath.

Two cancers clawed my chest with tongues of fire;
blood counts off the charts, higher and higher.
I watched as chemo took my hair, my joy, my strength,
and dared not plan ahead for life of any length.

My soul fell into the depths of a hopeless pool;
I cried out, "Be merciful to me, a fool!"
I dared not beg the gods for final peace,
for the only pathway there was death's release.

To act as succor for my constant, gnawing pain
only little white pills could oblivion gain;
but to trade one hell for another I would not conform,
so I merely set sails to endure it...

and rode out the storm.