Did you know April is National Poetry Month?
I’ve always admired poets. They say so much in just a few words. I’m working on this myself, not the poetry so much, but trying to be less wordy in my writing when I can be.
For National Poetry Month, I’m sharing a poem.
The poem I’m sharing is one of my favorites. It was written by friend and fellow blogger, Lois Hjelmstad. Lois is the author of Fine Black Lines: Reflections on facing cancer, fear and loneliness. It’s a wonderful book. I highly recommend it.
I was fortunate enough to have Lois write a guest post a while back called Why I Did Not Choose Reconstruction. If you missed it, do check it out; it’s well worth a read.
The following poem by Lois is one of my absolute favorites because it says so much to me about forced positivity – a huge pet peeve of mine in Cancer Land.
Cancer or no cancer, I just know you’ll appreciate it too.
No Lifeguard on Duty
by Lois Hjelmstad
It is difficult
when one is drowning
to wave to the people
on shore
one wants to be
friendly, of course,
but perhaps it is
more important
to keep
swimming
Don’t you just love that?
I sure do.
Maybe someday I’ll tackle writing a poem or two myself!
Cancer or no cancer, have you ever felt like you were “drowning” due to too much “waving”?
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Lois Hjelmstad
Sunday 28th of April 2013
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing my poem. And thank you, my dear friends, who love it. It came to me while I was walking one day with my husband and we chanted it all the way home so I wouldn't forget it. For any who might want the info, I wrote Fine Black Lines in 1993, added an "Afterword" in 2003. My website and blog are at http:ow.ly/gumQr. I'd love to meet you there!
Nancy
Monday 29th of April 2013
Lois, It was my absolute pleasure. I love it. Thanks for sharing how it came to be and thanks for sharing more info about your site.
jude
Sunday 28th of April 2013
Happy National Poetry Month!
One of my poems will be published in an anthology, THE CANCER POETRY PROJECT 2, https://twitter.com/CancerPoetry which is due out any minute.
Here is another poem I would like to share with you:
There is no After
It’s Autumn, and so, everything’s dying. Beautifully. Or so it seems. Foliage, aspen and maple, drift, deciduous, outside our window. Even in a violent wind they come to rest gently amid the living, pale, crumble, return to the soil.
The window isn't open, but through the glass, we see winter approach. You are not dying, or so it seems. In truth, our Autumn is simply stretched out so far we can’t take it all in. We must live beautifully to die beautifully.
J. O'Nym
Nancy
Monday 29th of April 2013
Jude, Congrats on getting one of your poems published! That's marvelous. Thanks for sharing your Autumn poem. It's lovely.
Lisa Valentine
Sunday 21st of April 2013
Nancy, Wonderful poems by both Beth and Lois! So stark and heart-wrenching, which is exactly what makes them so powerful. I love Lois' poetry too and appreciate the link to Beth's. Poetry, or any writing, can be so therapeutic and cathartic for anyone going through challenges like breast cancer. Here are two links to poems I have written, in two separate blog posts. I hope the links work.
http://habitualgratitude.blogspot.com/2012/12/an-anniversary-and-multitude-of-s-words.html
http://habitualgratitude.blogspot.com/2012/11/keeping-perspective.html
Thanks!
Nancy
Monday 22nd of April 2013
Lisa, Your comment really makes me consider tackling writing a poem... Thanks for sharing the links to yours. I'm off to check them out!
Facing Cancer Together
Sunday 21st of April 2013
Lois's poem is excellent. I've been thinking a bit more about poetry lately and reckon I might take a few shots at it. Thanks for reminder inspiration and very clever poem! ~Catherine
Nancy
Monday 22nd of April 2013
Catherine, I think you should give it a shot! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Philippa (aka Feisty Blue Gecko)
Sunday 21st of April 2013
I love this, what a wonderful choice. Thank you Nancy for sharing, Beth for highlighting that it is National Poetry Month and THANK YOU to Lois for saying what is too often unsaid, so eloquently.
Nancy
Sunday 21st of April 2013
Philippa, It is a stunning poem isn't it? I just love it. Thanks so much for commenting. It means a lot especially knowing all you're going through of late.