Haikus Part 2

Haikus are a Japanese form of poetry consisting of 3 lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. I wrote earlier about having written some haikus as part of my grieving process after Debbie passed away. I’ve arranged the haikus into 4 seasons and will post them on this blog. This week I’m posting the first two seasons.
 
 
Season of Before:
Unknown blissful ignorance,
The storm approaches.
 
What I ended up writing for this section was not poetry, but stories of Debbie. I’ve posted some of these already as memories of Debbie.
 
 

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Season of Cancer:
The disease defines our life,
But kills only one.
 
I’ve arranged the haikus in this section chronologically to tell the story of what happened from the first symptoms to the end.
 
 
After the school year
A trip up to the North Shore.
Her shoulder pains grow.
 
 
 
 
Tomorrow, come here.
The doctor needs to see you.
Worry, dread and fear.
 
 
 
 
Doctor Meeting
 
The scan saw something.
Referred to oncology;
They think its cancer.
 
 
 
 
Grasping at Straws
 
Just an infection,
Take some antibiotics.
My false fantasy.
 
 
 
 
An implanted port,
Pumping poison into her –
Chemotherapy.

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Before her hair goes
We take a family picture
All in shades of red.
 
 
 
 
It’s spread to her brain.
Now they’ll do radiation
And scare us some more.
 
 
 
 
Tumor markers down.
They are in the normal range.
Cause to celebrate.
 
 
 
 
Things are going well
Optimism at Christmas.
Gifts for her new hair.
 
 
 
 
Detached retina,
The beginning of the end.
She doesn’t get well.
 
 
 
 
Intensive Care
 
Her whispered whimpers,
A still ghastly echo of
My silent sobbing.
 
 
 
 
An everyday trip,
Commuting to hospital,
Spending time with her.
 
 
 
 
Our hopes and dreams flee.
Treatments are discontinued –
We enter hospice.
 
 
 
 
Took her to ER
Not knowing her return home
Would be in hospice.
 
 
 
 
A Transition
 
A hole left behind.
On Saturday, as March ends,
She passes away.
 
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