Poetry

Poetry, Letters, and Prose

Ruminations of a PC Partner
by Jean M. Gleisner

I remember that day December 4th
A phone call brought the message fortr
The words were ones I'll not forget
It's small, slow growing, not to fret

The days and hours are passing by
Learn all we can, try not to cry
The uro speaks of medium size
I feel the tears well in my eyes

Another doctor's DRE
Brings forth the words that panic me
Might be extracapsular extension
"Worrisome" I hear him mention

He needs another PSA
The MRI's a month away
Our brains are filled with PC-SPES
And other terms the info says

Conformal X-rays, Gleason scores
Saw palmetto, health food stores
Brachytherapy, seeds or not
Get the one that Andy got?

Life has brought us to this place
With mighty challenges to face
And grave decisions must be made
To try to make the cancer fade

I hold him in my arms and cry
And wonder if he'll live or die
Oh what's the reason we are here
Our hearts so filled with love and fear?

Will time reveal there's life ahead
Without the lurking cancer dread?
Or has Time already left its mark
Bequeathing us a future dark?

Today I Cried
by Don Cooley

I wrote this poem on the Evening on May 24th, 1998 following watching the Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC. I had known that Len, who I mention in the poem, was losing the battle. I was not aware that he had passed on about an hour before. This was posted to the Circle, Seedpods and PPML mailing lists on the Internet.

On this day in 1998 I cried.
I cried for the men facing death from this disease.
I cried for the families of the men holding them
and putting up a brave front.

I cried for the men and their families,
that don't know what tomorrow brings.
I cried for those newbies signing on,
just starting this journey against this dragon.

I cried for Scott Barker, he called me today,
He doesn't know if he will be here next month.
I cried for Len, Mike, Russ, Dennis, Curtis, all in pain,
And those others I missed, I cried for them too.

I watched the Memorial Concert In DC.
And they brought vivid memories,
of those who fought our battles,
to keep us free.

But I cried for those 43,000 men,
who we will lose this year.
These men who are fighting their own war,
against this evil we call Prostate Cancer.

I cried for the gallant families,
of men who have already passed on.
I cried for the men who suffered,
before their time from this hell.

And today was also my day to remember
the deaths of my family in their battles
with cancer, war, and just daily living.
I cried for all on this day in 1998.

Today is my day to cry!.

Don Cooley