The 17th Day Poem by Theodora (Theo) Onken
The 17th Day
My mother was part Irish
She had the bluest eyes
Even laying in her hospital bed they were blue as the sky- -
Laying there so peacefully with rosary in her hand
On the 17th day of November - the day she was to die.
I also lost my best friend to cancer. She wasn't old yet either. She was first diagnosed in 96 - but after surgery, etc she had her health back...or so everyone thought. By December of 2004 it had returned and by June of 2005 she was gone. She suffered as well. We always think of ourselves and how we suffer when someone we know and love is dying but do we ever stop and think about the physical pain, the anguish, the sorrow that they go through - knowing that as they suffer they are going to die soon?
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
5/14/2024 10:16:02 AM # 1.0.0.1119
There is such raw pain in this poem and you wisely carried it by simple blunt but scene-painting words. A loving tribute to your Mother. I rate it a 10 but this poem isn't about rating- -it is about hearts breaking
Thank you Susan. Yes, it is about raw pain; my mother's and secondly my dad and I. I went with her to her radiation treatments...and made sure she took her d****ed Cytoxen. Believe in my heart that it was the chemo that took her so fast. She was in severe pain physically, Mentally and emotionally her heart was broken because she did not want to leave either of us. It was a horrible, horrible, time - one that I could never have imagined just a few years before. She was always healthy...I was the sickly kid...mom was healthy, strong and happy as was my dad. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for the ten -but you are right it isn't about a rating at all. It is about that evil, vile disease that takes way too many lives every single day. Lost my best friend to the same disease...she left a husband and three young sons behind. I am her youngest sons, Godmother. He never got over her loss and had a sort of breakdown after she passed away. After all of these years I do not believe that we are any closer to a cure....I really believe we should be. Have no idea why the research has not progressed better. Certain leukemia's in children are being cured - at St. Judes, I am told. Also, have heard that certain types of lung cancer -is being treated with a certain med that allows them to live longer but is not a cure. Lost my cousin Carol Jean to lung cancer last August and no she wasn't old either. Know that you have been personally touched in your family and I do still pray for your daughter every day.