Tears of Sorrow

UPA Challenge Poem

Clarence Marsh 9-17-09

Many years ago I experienced a pain so

Great that it caused great pain and sorrow

Living in another state my phone rang

To my surprise it was grandmother calling

She had called before but this time her

Voice was weak and trembling

I ask what was wrong and she said I need you

To come home

Without another word I was on the first flight home

Thinking to myself what could it be

My mind wandered but I couldn’t imagine what lies ahead

My family met me at the airport as we went to her house

I ask what’s wrong and no one would answer me

I found out my grandmother had lung cancer

And the doctors where saying maybe 6 months

So I was ask to come home to care for my grandmother

I told her the doctor’s don’t know you like I do

We’ll make it together and show them who knows more

You see I have Leukemia and have been fighting my whole life

With God’s help and my family I made it to the age of 24 after

Being diagnosed at age 2 with A.L.L.

Together we fought and the 6 months turned into 6 ½ years

On December 20th 1993 she was taken from us.

The only ones by her side were my cousin and me.

I held her hand and said we fought a good fight now it’s time

To say goodbye

One deep breath and she was gone.

I couldn’t cry because I was the one that had to be strong

But after things were done

I fell to my knees and cried till I had no more tears

I cried tears of sorrow and pain but did so when

I thought the pain would be less

For there is no one I loved more

Then my Grandmother

She was the best