All Blessed Poem by Ray Hansell

The battle is almost over
But you put up some fight
As the end approaches
No need to be filled with fright

You gave it all you had
You fought against all odds
You never got real confident
You never put up a false facade

You took each day one at a time
Small victories were hailed
Never did you ever feel
Your ship was about to sail

For a while the outlook was great
You were feeling fine
You were always thankful
That you keep getting more time

But soon the small battles
Were becoming big defeats
The picture was getting clearer
This cancer you weren't going to beat

But don't look back in anger
For the hand that you were dealt
All the love around you
It was all true love that you felt

Friends and family prayed for you
Every step of the way
You were constantly in their thoughts
With each and every passing day

So now there are no more
Fights you have to wage
Everyone knows for sure
All the fight in you, is what you gave

When people stop to remember you
With a smile or a tear
The one thing they'll always remember
Is that you never displayed your fear

You'll be remembered for your smile
And how you made people feel
They know your smile was genuine
They know your feelings were real

But most of all they'll remember
No so much how you died
But they'll remember all the strength
And just how hard you tried

Ernest Hemingway once said
All true stories in death
In death just like in life
It's by God that we're all blessed


12-3-08/RJH

For Marlene who put up a great fight...