Poetry Thursday

A Small Victory after Chemo

Leash in hand, I trot
beside you as we make
our daily visit to the mail box.

You lean into the leash,
my protector, my friend,
as if to say: Hurry.

Heat bakes our bones;
breeze tickles our ears—
a girl and a terrier—


This poem was written while I was on I.V. Cytoxan. I was taking chemo-therapy every four weeks for twelve months. At this time, I could barely walk. Herky, my brother's dog, would sit around my cupped legs while I slept. He guarded my dreams.

At this time I had some horrible dreams. I was also on 100-80 mg of prednisone.

Everyday, Herky would bounce around until I grabbed his leash. We would walk less than a block to the mail box, then walk back. For someone who used to walk 2-3 miles a day, this exercise was the best I could do. Once I made it back to the house, I would have to take a long nap.

My life is much better now. But, when I read this poem, I remember those hard days.