“My Beloved Survivor” copyright 2009 (Possible PG13 rating) John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of Hubpages.com

 

She stood naked before me in the bathroom.

Before me I can see her beauty

amidst the scars of her two battles.

 

Breast cancer

twice in a ten year period.

 

Her left breast was twisted almost inward.

The scar under her arm pit made her nipple

bend inward toward her chest wall.

 

Upon her right breast the burn was clearly seen.

It was where six weeks of radiation were done

in one week. 

 

The right side was caved inward in this area of burn.

Her nipple stood straight high and proud on this breast. 

This was the breast that the doctor suggested

that she also have chemo due to her second bout.

 

Her hair had long grown back from this terror

of a heart-wrenching attack on her entire body.

 

As she smiled at me

and kissed the top of my head.

 

I thanked my Lord

for putting this beautiful

and strong woman

in my life.   

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“Sam Has Left The Building” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Losing a dear friend is always a very sad thing; having that lost happen during the Christmas season is especially sad (Sam passed away on December 15th, 2008).  To me, Sam Shields was a very special individual, and I will miss him very much.  

Sam was a beautiful man.

A man of presence

standing six foot five

at over two hundred and fifty pounds.

 

He had the gentle qualities of a Teddy Bear.

I never remember Sam being anything but

warm, generous, with words of kindness

on every occasion we were together.

 

If I could have had someone to pick

as an older brother

I would have picked Sam.

 

Sam died suddenly from a massive stroke.

The doctors said his life could have been saved

but he would have been a total vegetable.

 

I know Sam would not have wanted that. 

Sam had been an engineer with Boeing

for forty-six years.

 

He never spoke of what kind of work he did.

He would laughingly say, “If I told you, I then

would have to kill you.”

 

I am going to miss Sam terribly.

They do not make men

like him

anymore.

 

 

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“The Return Dread of Cancer” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

 

“Parked in Doctor’s Slot at Cancer Treatment Center”

She is a two-time breast cancer survivor.

This dreaded disease lingers over her life each day.

Now in her senior years

she faces the lost of dear friends each day.

 

Each death of a friend by cancer brings back the fear to her.

Each similar pain suffered by cancer 

when shared by those who passed on

brings the horror that this may be a return

of the dark horror.

 

Her anger with the medical profession increases each day.

Billions of dollars have been spent in research over the years

yet the treatments are as backward as cave times.

 

Parked in the Doctors Slot of the cancer treatment center

is a Rolls Silver Cloud Convertible.

Its shiny green color

speaks of the monies that were drained from her body

as the fluid of death was put into her veins.

 

Cannot this horror of death

be destroyed

that takes us from our loved ones?

Read Full Post »

“My Beloved Survivor” copyright 2009 (Possible PG13 rating) John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of Hubpages.com

 

She stood naked before me in the bathroom.

Before me I can see her beauty

amidst the scars of her two battles.

 

Breast cancer

twice in a ten year period.

 

Her left breast was twisted almost inward.

The scar under her arm pit made her nipple

bend inward toward her chest wall.

 

Upon her right breast the burn was clearly seen.

It was where six weeks of radiation were done

in one week. 

 

The right side was caved inward in this area of burn.

Her nipple stood straight high and proud on this breast. 

This was the breast that the doctor suggested

that she also have chemo due to her second bout.

 

Her hair had long grown back from this terror

of a heart-wrenching attack on her entire body.

 

As she smiled at me

and kissed the top of my head.

 

I thanked my Lord

for putting this beautiful

and strong woman

in my life.   

Read Full Post »

“My Beloved Survivor” copyright 2009 (Possible PG13 rating) John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of Hubpages.com

 

She stood naked before me in the bathroom.

Before me I can see her beauty

amidst the scars of her two battles.

 

Breast cancer

twice in a ten year period.

 

Her left breast was twisted almost inward.

The scar under her arm pit made her nipple

bend inward toward her chest wall.

 

Upon her right breast the burn was clearly seen.

It was where six weeks of radiation were done

in one week. 

 

The right side was caved inward in this area of burn.

Her nipple stood straight high and proud on this breast. 

This was the breast that the doctor suggested

that she also have chemo due to her second bout.

 

Her hair had long grown back from this terror

of a heart-wrenching attack on her entire body.

 

As she smiled at me

and kissed the top of my head.

 

I thanked my Lord

for putting this beautiful

and strong woman

in my life.   

Read Full Post »

“The Return Dread of Cancer” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

 

“Parked in Doctor’s Slot at Cancer Treatment Center”

She is a two-time breast cancer survivor.

This dreaded disease lingers over her life each day.

Now in her senior years

she faces the lost of dear friends each day.

 

Each death of a friend by cancer brings back the fear to her.

Each similar pain suffered by cancer 

when shared by those who passed on

brings the horror that this may be a return

of the dark horror.

 

Her anger with the medical profession increases each day.

Billions of dollars have been spent in research over the years

yet the treatments are as backward as cave times.

 

Parked in the Doctors Slot of the cancer treatment center

is a Rolls Silver Cloud Convertible.

Its shiny green color

speaks of the monies that were drained from her body

as the fluid of death was put into her veins.

 

Cannot this horror of death

be destroyed

that takes us from our loved ones?

Read Full Post »

This is Cancer Awareness Month. This is our Story on this subject..

Texas Poetry

 

 

I could see the sadness in her eyes

as each chunk of her golden hair came forth in her hand.

She placed her once shining, golden flax into a plastic bag

to be reminded of the beauty of her hair.

 

Her hair stylist assured her that baking soda

washed gently in her hair would prevent

the falling of her hair from her scalp.

 

In giving her this suggestion

the stylist refused to cut her hair shorter

in order to make her lost easier to bear.

The stylist was wrong.

 

Bear witness to the shining and blotched scalp

where beautiful golden hair once resided.

Nightmares of her past returned to her.

 

Remembrance of a childhood ring worm of her head

returned to haunt her again

of laughing classmates

finger-pointing to stocking capped head.

 

The Spector of Death upon a black chair

drove her to the…

View original post 102 more words

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As of late I have been blessed in exchanging with WordPress members who have dealt with breast cancer. Hence my desire to repost this poem. Many would find it difficult to believe but breast cancer in men in now becoming more and more common.
John J. Rigo

Texas Poetry

 

She stood naked before me in the bathroom.

Before me I can see her beauty

amidst the scars of her two battles.

 

Breast cancer

twice in a ten year period.

 

Her left breast was twisted almost inward.

The scar under her arm pit made her nipple

bend inward toward her chest wall.

 

Upon her right breast the burn was clearly seen.

It was where six weeks of radiation were done

in one week. 

 

The right side was caved inward in this area of burn.

Her nipple stood straight high and proud on this breast. 

This was the breast that the doctor suggested

that she also have chemo due to her second bout.

 

Her hair had long grown back from this terror

of a heart-wrenching attack on her entire body.

 

As she smiled at me

and kissed the top of my head.

 

I thanked my Lord

for putting this…

View original post 7 more words

Read Full Post »

“The Return Dread of Cancer” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

 

"Parked in Doctor's Slot at Cancer Treatment Center"

She is a two-time breast cancer survivor.

This dreaded disease lingers over her life each day.

Now in her senior years

she faces the lost of dear friends each day.

 

Each death of a friend by cancer brings back the fear to her.

Each similar pain suffered by cancer 

when shared by those who passed on

brings the horror that this may be a return

of the dark horror.

 

Her anger with the medical profession increases each day.

Billions of dollars have been spent in research over the years

yet the treatments are as backward as cave times.

 

Parked in the Doctors Slot of the cancer treatment center

is a Rolls Silver Cloud Convertible.

Its shiny green color

speaks of the monies that were drained from her body

as the fluid of death was put into her veins.

 

Cannot this horror of death

be destroyed

that takes us from our loved ones?

Read Full Post »