Journal of Palliative Medicine

A few months ago I found out I have cancer

They said it has spread

They say there is no hope

So they sent me home to die

Hospice is my only option

Perhaps they will understand

I am a father of four

Grandfather of six

And two live with me

But I am a young grandpa

I am only forty five

See, I am not scared of dying

As much as I am scared to leave

How will my wife handle it?

Would she be able to raise them alone?

My mother sits at my bedside

She has pain in her eyes

It is hard for her to see

That her only son

Must suffer like this

The pain is excruciating

It eats me up from inside

Yes, the morphine helps me some

And the breathing treatment too

But the pain lies deep within me

It does not let me leave in peace

Angels! I see angels gather around

They tell me they can wait

Time? What is time? They say

You make peace within yourself

You make peace with your loved ones

We know your words fall short

We know it is hard for you to articulate

So we stand here in vigil as we pray

We pray for a human to show up

Someone who can help you make peace