Poem: Breaking News – 27/01/21

The journey is almost over, 
the pain, the suffering, the ailing, 
all to be washed away from the nights and the mornings, 

the bravery is there to be seen, 
highs and lows, during so much time, 
she’s been stoic throughout it all, 
the therapy has not seized her courage, 
or taken away her positivity,

she’s been fighting and carrying on
throughout what has sometimes been a struggle,
demonstrating her resilience and capabilities. 

Today’s the second last session, 
she has strength within, 
she has power throughout, 

the flushing of medications promises
one more attendance
to be borne with a grin, 

I am proud of her quiet resolve, 
and with this illness 
she has demonstrated the ability to combat the ill emotions, 
upsets and suffering, 
her coping strategies long ago set into motion,
brightness in moving forward and re-focussing.

She will walk away from this time with her head held high
knowing she’s combatted this illness as though
it’s barely stopped her,
hardly stalled her in her tracks,
hardly sent her life awry,

she’s been able to fight through the side effects,
has kept herself busy,
has remained hopeful,
even when she was feeling so poorly and weak,
she approached it with the hope of a new tomorrow.

And I know that when she strides away from that seat
that final time,
triumphant in heart, body and mind,
she will feel oh, so fine
that she’s combatted this
in the best way she could have handled it,
my gracious mother of mine.

We await the opportunity to celebrate this milestone,
hers and our relief together in due time.

 © 2021 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved. 
Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash