An Angel By Any Other Name...

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 25 Sep 2013
  • 2360 reads
14 comments
 

 

All at sea – adrift, in the middle

of Oxford; the sat-nav, as usual,

speaking in tongues. “I’ve enough

of my own problems, God knows!

 

Why saddle myself with other people’s?”

she asks a dog on the dashboard, grinning

back at her; a gift from her sister...her

very last Christmas, as it transpired.

 

Seems she had her answer, as the pooch

nods, non-stop, enthusiastically back.

 

Four hours later, holding the hand

of an eight-year old, about to undergo

a fifth week of chemo, that answer

is endorsed.

 

While he sleeps, she retraces

her steps on the road – brought her to him,

to this hospital; a website, crying out

for someone to bring a ray of sunshine

to kids like Ben, and maybe she did...

 

Until sending books and jigsaws in the post

didn’t seem enough. She needed to meet him,

face to face...meet his mum and dad, and

baby brother, however painful it might

turn out to be. 

 

Lend a helping hand when she could,

which was what this, here, now, was all about. 

 

Comes the moment for goodbyes;

till next week, naturally.  He blows

her a kiss; asks would she marry him...

when he’s bigger?

 

‘Maybe I will,’ she says, smiling at him,

and at her sister, wherever she was,

whose philosophy – there’s a funny side

to most things, had worked for her

to her very last breath.

 

‘Celebrate the life I had, don’t

mourn what I had not.’

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Biography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Moving and down-to-earth, bringing your two daughters together in an extra bit of love for Ben.
People can think you only get involved if it's easy for you, but you show that those who do something like this go for it despite the everyday stumbling blocks to it being easy to help. It must have given you a lot of pleasure to know of her work too.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Rhiannon.    My daughter joined the 'Chemo Angels' about six months after her sister passed away, and is an inspiration to me, and to many others.  'Ben' is still battling on.  She seems him regularly, but his is a rare form of leukaemia, and the prognosis, unfortunately not hopeful.

 

Tina

 

Submitted by maisie on

i'm not sure I want to comment on the poem, I just came in to say HIya as I've not been in for some time.  Hope you are well and everything is okay?

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi maisie. Good to hear from you.  Things change, as they do, but I guess that's the way of the world. Hope things are well with you.  Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Honest writing, and heartening.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, Bee. Pleased you found it so.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Tina, what an inspirational woman your daughter sounds. Have overwhelming respect for both people battling cancer and people that give their time and love to people suffering long-term. This poem is as satisfying as it is painful. Selflessness sparkles in every line.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks so much, Vera, and it's interesting you use the word 'sparkles', because that's just what she does;-)   

Tina

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

There's such a mixture of emotions in this poem Tina.  To know that the ones we love care so much,  is one of the most precious gift we can ever have.  Then there is this boy Ben you mention...he must be so brave to have to contend with such a serious illness.  I'm glad you've put this piece of writing on here,  because you've highlighted a subject that a lot of people can relate too.  Thank you for sharing.  Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny.  Your words, more than appeciated. 

The impact on a family when a child of theirs has a life-threatening condition is unimaginable for most of us. I am more than proud of my daughter for opening my eyes to this.

Tina

 

Submitted by UndercoverJulietta on

Your daughter is an incredible person, and this poem just accentuates how selfless she is. Another great one! (:

I was wondering whether you knew of anything similar in England? I had heard of Chemo Angels but it's based in the US right?

(:

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Julietta.  Yes, Chemo Angels is based in the US, but there is a UK branch of it, which is how my daughter was able to volunteer her services. By the way, her name is not a whole lot different from yours, strangely enough;-)

Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Tina,

As I've said before both your daughters are wonderful examples of people that inspire one for her courage and forbearance, the other with her compassion.  Two daughters that you must be immensely proud of.  As for inspiring; you don't do so bad yourself in that department.

Moya 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Moya...for once I'm lost for words, except to say a heartfelt thank you;-)  Tina