I once knew nothing of farewell
Far from the burdens of heaven or hell
All worldly ills, were quietly brushed aside
And I never shivered, never hungry or tried

Weightless days were spawned with delight
Fawned for and adored, with turmoil out of sight
These hours of content, were fleeting and aimless
Marred by suffering, it’s calling blameless

I sprang for motherhood, thrashing and shrill
Drugged by heartache, the fault of its looming hill
I screeched and howled until the winds fled
Until my lungs, were silent with dread

But mother remained, gallantly still
The light of her life was nowhere near its fill
Muttered pleading became fervent toil
The likes of which no enemies could foil

This trial is waning
Perseverance is gaining
In solemn reverence, of our martyred sunlight

The rugged is now ailing
All mayhem is flailing
Crumbling and docile, subjects of the current

And so she remained
Smoothed and perfected by the valor she’s gained
But there are remnants, on her war ravaged skin
Bearing each scar, cradling her iron grin

I once believed, only in farewell
Consumed in reveries of heaven  or hell
All worldly ills were greater inside
But she did not waver, never hungry or tried

All the way back in May of 2003, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember it was the week before i went to sixth grade camp when my mother told me what was going on. That day i remember crying my eyes out, because i thought my mother was going to die. This was probably the hardest i had cried in a while, and the closest i ever came to crying like that again was the night my first girlfriend dumped me. It still doesn’t compare. I watched my mother suffer and persevere through her weakness. I just wish i had her strength at the time. My grades were plummeting, i got bullied and beat up every day, i faked sick from school constantly, and i did a lot of things i should not have been doing. I feel like i added to her hardship, and i feel really guilty. My mother’s cancer is gone, but the memories will always stay with me. Im just glad she survived.