He Says There Is No Denial Poem by RIC BASTASA

i watched him on his last lecture.
there are seven tumors on his liver.
six months to live and he is on the fourth month.
a little math will make us understand
as simple as that.
he does the push up
look there are no hands, he laughs.
there is no sadness in his eyes
just the glow of having to go
the eagerness of having to go on
sabbatical leave.
nervous laughter is heard
as he shifts from one joke to another.
he has three points: one must not stop dreaming.
second: one must help others realize their dreams
third: i miss this one. i have to go back and watch him again.
i guess i cried.
but i wipe my tears, and pretend that i feel nothing.

i can relate. Grandpa died of prostate cancer.
Papa died after Mama died. He could not wait dying
after another year.

well, what 's the worry? death is certain.
i think, there is nothing new here.

i, too, am moving, i may not know when, but i know where.
i just believe.