The Night Before Chemo

'Twas the night before chemo,
when all through the house,
were my kids and my mother
and Hubby, my spouse.
School lunches were packed
by the Nana with care
As I dragged boys to bed
up every last stair.

The cowboys were nestled
snug in their beds,
With lyrics of Christmas songs
stuck in their heads.
And Mom in her pjs
and me in the same
Both were worn out
from the $%&! cancer game.

When up in my head
there arose such a clatter
I sat up in bed
to think what was the matter.
Away to my blog
I flew like a flash,
Opened my laptop
Praying it wouldn't crash.

The gleam on the screen
of my trusty old Dell
gave me a chance
for my story to tell.
When, what to my wandering mind did I think
I should make an appointment to go see a shrink!

More rapid than eagles the images came,
And I got mad, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Dumb sickness! Dumb chemo! I hate you a lot!
Mean nurses! Cold tubing! My blood will not clot!
Stop touching my port! Stop giving me meds!
Now dash away! dash away! or off with your heads!"

And then in a twinkling
I knew in my mind
That sure enough, I was
in a big bind.
I reigned in my thoughts
and settled on down,
Then something else happened
that caused me to frown.

My hair was two colors,
and getting quite thin,
And my clothes were too scratchy
for my sensitive skin.
My stomach was rumbling
from the inside out
And I felt like I needed
a drink that was stout.

My eyes used to twinkle
But now they're ablaze
And my soul is determined
to fight through these days.
When the morning comes
and I rise from my bed
I surely know I have
nothing to dread.

I spoke not a word, but
bowed my head to pray.
"Lord, give me the strength
I need for that day."
Then, knowing that my God
was holding me tight,
I reached to the lamp
and turned off the light.