On February 13, 2010 a favorite poet of mine, Lucille Clifton, died after a long battle with cancer and other diseases. The year before last while attending the Dodge Poetry Festival in New Jersey, I had occasion to hear her speak and was completely taken with her undeniable quiet grace. I happened upon one of her poems just recently and was reminded how important it is to celebrate every day we are given so I thought I would share....
won't you celebrate with me
won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model,
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
lucille clifton
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When my husband, Jerry, was in treatment for recurring malignant melanoma, he taught me to appreciate every day. He once commented that he could not complain about the weather because he was here to see it.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a positive element to cancer, it is that it teaches you to value the time you have on this earth with the ones you love, and to make the most of it.
It's a hard lesson when someone you love is no longer here to share that crazy weather with you, or see the grandchildren growing up, or share the daily happenings at work.
But when you adjust your attitude and accept the things you cannot change, you can move ahead with less stress and more calm. It's amazing how it works.