Urticaria, or: A thousand cuts

An American sentence: The cancer patient's developed an allergy to blood transfusions. What's an 'American Sentence'? Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโ€™t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total. He felt that removing the… Continue reading Urticaria, or: A thousand cuts

Earlier, or: Not early enough

An American sentence: She moved her flight up, fearing her sister might die before she arrived. What's an 'American Sentence'? Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโ€™t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total. He… Continue reading Earlier, or: Not early enough

Being dismissed, or: Death sentence

An American sentence: Being dismissed from the hospital, for some, is like a death sentence. What's an 'American Sentence'? Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโ€™t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total. He felt… Continue reading Being dismissed, or: Death sentence

Online, or: Oncologist

A haibun A WordPress friend informed me last night that she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which has spread. Her oncologist will give her a surgery date on Tuesday. Subsequent treatment (chemo, radiation, etc.) will be determined after the surgery. She is in a state of fear and disbelief, and as she wrote to… Continue reading Online, or: Oncologist

Chemotherapy, or: Blood transfusion

An American sentence: My aunt's white blood cell count is much too low for her to receive chemo. What's an 'American Sentence'? Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโ€™t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables… Continue reading Chemotherapy, or: Blood transfusion

Cancer consumes, or: Clear-eyed

An 'Amanda's Pinch' poem Her daughter, a doctor, stays always by her side. A collapsed lung has landed her at hospital. Please, let it be pneumonia, we pray, Though cancer consumes her body. Though cancer consumes her body, My aunt cherishes every single day. Her will's not been whittled, not even a little, Constantly fighting… Continue reading Cancer consumes, or: Clear-eyed

Lucinda, Cindy, or: Lucy in the sky

Poetry Partners #106 A poem by Candace of 'Feel Her Breathing' Mother needing grace Had a daughter full of grace She said Jesus sat at the end of her bed A golden angel at her feet Lucinda was her name We called her Cindy Her sisters called her Lucy in the Sky Feel Her Breathing:… Continue reading Lucinda, Cindy, or: Lucy in the sky

You don’t know until you know

Last night, my wife and the other mothers of the girls in our daughter's first grade class had an evening gathering to discuss the social dynamics that have been developing among our children. This was exclusively a meeting for the girls' mothers, rather than for all the mothers, because the boys and girls tend to… Continue reading You don’t know until you know