Poetry thread

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
21

Hope this doesn’t bring anyone down, its really not supposed too. It was just my thoughts having being diagnosed with secondaries…

Surrounded by friends, loving family and the sanctury of home
my world just stops still, vacant and empty, awaiting for the last glass to overspill
Its not being maudlin and wallowing in grief
but its now a special time, to cherish, savour, never to repeat

To look back on the past, with much joy, tinged with sadness
is to reflect on my being, just me, I, alone
Not changing or tweeking the things that have happened
but relishing and treasuring moments of me being… me

The life I’ve had is past now, but not forgotten
joy and laughter my lifes blood as the nature beyond
Filling my heart and my body with something quite special
beating, pumping and vibrant, creating me being… me

To those I hold dear, words will never explain it
the connection, the spark, energy, you can never disect
The depth of feelings created when eyes do the greeting
it lights up the world for me being… me

To some I am loud, brash and some say outspoken
oh, annoying at times, on that we agree
No forerunner or leader of men, but buzzing through life like no care in the world
its just gotta be perfect the bee being…me

Its hoped, with your help that I have gained some slight wisdom
your input has moulded and shaped me, yes, its all down to you
Don’t stop what you are doing, please hold and just love me
to make it worthwhile for me being…me

Trying to say, but rambling as usual
Please top my glass up, as I am thirsty, what’s new!
with moments and pleasures taken from the struggle ahead of us
I’ll carry on going with the help of you being…YOU

Clare x

22

Clare thats a brilliant poem and perfect for this thread as my aim was to provide a wide ranging resource about bc and all of its realities, and a venue for those of us who want to to be able to share it. Really thought provoking , (and scarily clever too!)Thanks for posting.

I’m loving this thread!

Vickie
x

23

Clare, it didn’t bring me down but it did make me think and it made me cry. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Jane xxx

24

What beautiful poems. Some made me laugh, some made me think and a couple made me cry.

Lovely idea for a thread, I love reading them.

Rachel
x

25

This is what I’ve come up with

Cancer

Who’s that fat bird in the mirror?
Surely it can’t be me!
I look like Tweedle Dum
Or is it Tweedle Dee?

Where once there was a mane so lush
There’s now just a bit of fluff
And where are the brows and lashes
My God this girl looks rough!

And what’s going on below the neck?
My boob has lost her mate
Where once she hung, a wee bit south
It’s now a sorry state!

My nails were once like talons
All beautiful and painted
Now short and ridged and flaky
Definitely tainted!

And what is that below the belt?
I thought cancer made you thin
Now I’m wearing enormous knickers
My thongs have been put in the bin

There’s a port in my arm where the poison goes in
A permanent reminder
Oh where is the girl that I once was?
I hope that I can find her

I’m sure she’s in there somewhere
Just waiting to come back
With new thick hair and lovely long nails
And a brand new fantastic rack!

26

Love this thread Vickix

One from me about the journey

Brick wall
Heavy loss
Fear and pity
Criss cross
Tears and tantrums
Silent prayer
Wonder if you hear me there

Sick and lonely
World’s still
People moving
Take a pill
Hand on heart
Think I’m dying
In my hole see me crying

Kind hands
Knife in
Fear and loss
Looks grim
Grieving me
Mother too
Wonder how I’ll make it through

End time
Last zap
Burn out
That’s that
Tired now
Finally free?
What does all this mean to me?

27

Love this…away to be a poet - and i dont know it !!! thats a start

28

11th May 2011

Happy Birthday 45!!
Just be thankful you’re alive
You have cancer, rather large
No guarantees u will survive

What’s a breast that’s now diseased?
Will I miss you when you leave?
The hair now lost has been replaced
To loose a breast is in distaste

But as a mum a wife a friend
Do a need my booby friend
You’ve proved you’re sick and quite contagious
And you might kill me, and that’s outrageous!!!

So in regret I say ta ta
A breast is a breast, my life is a blast
Goodbye my cancer my rotten friend
I love my life and will survive in the end…

29

I hope some of you know Forgiven (Alexander Beetle) by A A Milne

:0(
I had a big soft booby. It didn’t have a name;
It snuggled nicely in my bra with another just the same.
I didn’t think about it much, it always was just there
Then a surgeon cut my booby off, he went and cut my booby off
and I no longer had a pair.

He said I had cancer, the booby wasn’t good
It needed to be cut off and he said he would.
I know he had to do it and I had to have it done,
But now instead of two boobies, I only have the one.

I’ve heard surgeons can rebuild as well as just cut out,
I want to get this done, but still I have a doubt.
They might create something marvellous, as pert as can be,
But I have this sneaking feeling, it just won’t feel like me.

30

*bump*

31

Thank You.

June

32

Great poems ladies. I really enjoy reading them and it’s good when you read something you immediately recognise which someone has found the words for. If you know what I mean. Don’t think I found the right words there. Oh well!
The last poem I wrote was for my 4 and 6 year old sons but it’s not about breast cancer. I will have to post that one on the “my wheelie bin is a monster” forum instead;-)

Any more?

33

The words are bueatiful they made me laugh and cry. I wrote a black poem in one of my dark places I hope it doesn’t bring you down cos I’ve moved on since then but it was how I felt then…

1.35 and I’m sitting in bed feeling down,lonely and blue
I’ve tried to be positive, I’ve tried to be strong
But all Ifeel is that its wrong
It’s wrong for me to be weak,It’s wrong for me to be bleak
It’s just wrong for me not to be strong

But I can’t carry on feeling this way
So sorry girls I’m calling it a day
I feel that I’ve let you down but I can’t do another round
I feel as guilty as hell and I can hear you all yell
But i’m sorry girls my life is HELL

I managed FEC3 but am on my knees
Everythings sore and I can’t do anymore
Even cleaning my teeth makes me retch
What happened to life, why can’t I sleep
There’s pain when I move, what am I trying to prove

I gave it a go I wish I could do more
Now I’m being a complete bloody bore
There’s many worse of than me
but it doesn’t help knowing when I’m on my knees
This isn’t done lighlty or even in haste
but I know I’m cracking keeping this pace

I know you all care and the journeys begun
You’ve all been so good, supportive and fun
can I still stay on this forum?
The hospital been good, the staff even great
but I can’t do six even for my mates

Life is uncertain and I wish mine well
with rads still to go only time will tell
Need a clear head maybe a drink, happy pills plus a shrink
Fed up with crying and feeling low, where’s my get up and go
Pills wont stop the pain, oh my here I go again

Well I suppose you all think I’m a disgrace
and stick me back in my place
I gave it a go but now I’ll bail, ok so what I’ve failed
I feel so bad, I could be wrong this could go petong
But I gave it a go so don’t be sad.

Sorry I did say I was in a rotten place but am carrying on now FEC4 next week and yes it did help writing it down. Chris

34

I could really hear your pain in that.
Desperate pain and longing not to go on…
It was so provocative but not off putting at all because you added that you’re going ahead next week…

Well done for writing your thoughts so eloquently and a thousand wishes to congratulate you on taking the next step.
Can’t have been easy in any way.
Really do hope the future soon becomes a little brighter for you after this hideous treatment.

You’re a star!

Wx

This is such a great thread. Thank you to all you budding wordsmiths.

35

WELL DONE CHRIS FOR CARRYING ON. Hope FEC 4 is kinder in terms of SEs. Number 3 was my worst.

36

There was once a boob that had cancer,
It thought it a bit of a chancer
But the chemo went zap
And that was just that
And now it’s … In the bin.

37

Hi

Just wanted to say how talented you all are SCACO not so much maybe lol. But thankyou for posting the lovely poems you have really made me laugh and cry at your words. I am NOT a poet but carry on everyone I have really enjoyed reading them all

Thankyou

Jill x x x

38

Charming! Luckily my skin is like rhinosorous hide ( and that’s without rads).
Clearly must try harder:

There once was a breast that was lumpy
And although the recovery was bumpy
The lumps they did melt
They could hardly be felt
And now they’re… In the bin.

Hmm, think I peak too soon.

39

deleted

40

Little miss whoops -well done you for doing fec 4! Your poem totally brought me back to how I felt this time last year going through chemo and crying to my husband as I sat on the edge of the bath as I just didn’t feel up to putting my toothpaste on my toothbrush! Fec 4 is on the home straight now :slight_smile:

My rhyme, in the best tradition of scaco …

Cancer is rubbish
Cancer is sh!t
Cancer is cr@ppy
And I hate it.