A Letter to Cancer
A Letter to Cancer
by Linda Ellis, © 2003
I have tried to teach my children
not to detest, insult, berate,
but I cannot follow my own advice
when I am so filled with hate.
You are slowly stealing my father
and though some say this is God’s will,
those words will never stop me
from despising you, still.
Yes, I hate you, cancer
like I’ve hated nothing before,
I’ve cried so much, my eyes are dry
for tears…there are no more.
If only I could fight you,
my anger alone could win the bout;
I would crush you down to ashes
until “surrender!” you would shout.
And if you were a mighty tree,
I would destroy you limb by limb
until you swore to put an end to
all the pain you’re causing him.
What gives you the right? What gives you the power?
Just who do you think you are?
You have no feelings or compassion
for all the many lives you scar.
If I were a scientist, I’d focus
on finding the key to your demise;
just like those cowards on 9-11,
you attack with heartless surprise.
You personify evil;
you are wicked and cruel.
You thrive on others’ sorrow…
like cars run on fuel.
You are forever my enemy,
my nemeses, my foe,
but before you take my best friend,
there’s something you should know…
He hasn’t relinquished his dignity;
his inner strength shall persevere
and you’ll never have the satisfaction
of realizing his fear.
Because if you had a face,
he would look you straight in the eye
and say to you what he’s said to me…
that he’s not afraid to die.
You may have chosen his last day
and though he may be near it,
your power has its limitations
because you’ll never break his spirit!
Linda,
My heart is filled with sorrow as I learned of my niece who is 32 years old only has a few more days on this earth because the cancer inside her will win, and as I read your poem on cancer its allowing me to get a grip on the hurt I’m feeling.
Thank you for your poem!
Thankyou for your poem to cancer , I lost my lovely husband to melanoma in the lung which spread to the brain in january this year , he never smoked and we had been to gether 55years your poem the Dash was read at his funeral and has inspired a lot of our friends . My husband lived “The dash” and had a great zest for life and I find life very sad Cancer has a lot to answer for and I found your poem very therapeutic thankyou Linda for your inspirational poetry , I lost my dog last year as well and your animal poetry also helps you must be a lovely person
Kay Riley
Leeds
Yorks
Thank you so much for this poem, you are truly an inspiration too me. This is exactly how I feel. I am 21 and I just lost my grandpa to cancer two weeks ago, it has been the hardest thing I have even been through. Your poems have helped me a lot, I hope you know how many peoples lives you have touched and how many people like me you have helped.
Thank you Linda for this poem. I have lost My father and three brothers to this abominable disease, the most recent being on January 13th 2011. Only two male members of the family left out of six. The all faced it with courage and fortitude and like it says in your poem, it never and couldn’t break the spirit of any of them. God Bless you.
Dear Linda,
I was looking for a poem to post on my face book every word you wrote is how i feel today. My dad has stage 4 cancer he has been fighting for 2 yrs today we heard more bad news i was so angry i decided to look for a poem and read yours i am posting it on fb thank you for writing a poem about cancer
Linda,
I came upon your website after a coworker had “live your dash” tattooed on her wrist and I became curious what was behind her tattoo. I just read “letter to cancer” and am utterly floored. Tears cascading from my eyes. I lost my mom, my best friend, my confident almost two years ago to pancreatic cancer. It almost destroyed me and I cannot think of anything more poignant to describe my feelings during her battle, after her death, or now. I miss her everyday. Thank you for writing a poem that can aid others in understanding what we, who are left behind, experience inside and out. No better words could describe it . . . except for two . . . “it sucks”.
Thank you,
Melissa
Hi Linda, I just wanted to say I absolutely love your poem, The Dash and have just stumbled on some of your other writings.
I have had cancer myself and lost my darling dad just over eight weeks ago to this dreadful disease. I have just read your poem – A Letter to Cancer and found it so appropriate to how I am feeling.
Thank you so much for your words.
Christine x
Dear Linda,
Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement. I read and re-read your words regarding Cancer. I must admit I change one word.
That one word instead of father I change to husband.
The depression, anger and fear is just so much to handle at times – but every now and then you’ll see a smile, that smile you’ve always loved. Then you remember this is why we (as in everyone one who loves him) is in his fight for life.
Thank you for writing and sharing your meanful words, of fear, love, strength and encouragement it means alot to be able to read in some cases your own inner thoughts.
Sincerely,
Anna-marie
Thank you for your comment, Anna-marie. I hesitated to share this poem, because it was so personal. But, then I thought there are so many who have felt, or are currently feeling, these same emotions. To know that you’ve been touched by my words and as you put it, felt that they were in some cases your own inner thoughts, means so much to me.