Timeless

I wrote this poem for the Wea’ve Written Weekly prompt #204. The prompt was provided by Lesley, who asked us to do the following:

Write a Cameo poem—a tiny, distilled moment—on any theme you choose.

Form

• 7 lines;
• Syllable count: 2 / 5 / 8 / 3 / 8 / 7 / 2;
• Imagery is essential;
• Minimalism is encouraged

Two weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to a member of my young adult cancer support group. Her name was Brittany, and she was a beautiful and creative person. She had a business, made fabulous jewelry, and was well known in the local art scene. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, but we had some amazing conversations. Her breast cancer had metastasized after other treatment, and she received radiation to her brain last year. The last time she attended one of our group meetings (it must have been November or December), her oncology team was looking for more new treatments, and they seemed positive. Despite that, she talked about getting her affairs in order, a smart choice that many of us cancer survivors talk about (not in a dark way, but in a practical way), but we never thought that would be the last time we’d see her.

Each time I lose someone I know in the young adult cancer community, I have a lot of unanswerable questions. There are now five young women I’ve known that were gone long before their time, before they even reached 40. How do you carry on the legacy of someone who still had so much living to do? How can I be more alive to make up for those who can’t be alive anymore?

❤️ Caitlin K.

❤️ Megan B.

❤️ Koreen H.

❤️ Katie K.

❤️ Brittany T.