LIFE OR DEATH
by Jodie Senkyrik, ©, 1996

Cancer has no magic unto itself.
It is no sweet elixir
that gives insight or maturity,

but, such is the feeling
deep inside one’s self
when faced with nothing else.

Life is real
when you peel
away the surface and the sleep.

When there’s no more lying

about
living
and
dying,

When there’s nothing left

but
life
or
death,

we know the difference
and we can speak of nothing else.