Cancer Poem by Robin Bennett

Cancer

Rating: 4.3


How I remember the waiting room,
at my Daddy's oncologist's office-
If being eaten alive by cancer isn't enough-
The waiting room is full of old boring, dated
magazines in stages of disarray.
It smells like chemicals and fear,
and it looks deadly real.

Ugly pictures of a fisherman caught
in a raging nor' easter. Truly not a
well thought out metaphor, if I do
say so myself. The anti-cancer drugs
make the pale and weak thirsty,
not a water cooler in sight.

Daddy, how can you trust this
man with your life?
He's a supreme failure in keeping
his waiting room off life support.
You could easily give up
and die in this office.

It sucks the dim light from
your cancer ridden
bones, while you read
about Brad and Jen's
divorce from what
is now your past life.
The one before cancer.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Veeraiyah Subbulakshmi 23 July 2012

Robin, First of all, I feel sorry for the daddy. Second of all I may not agree with your comparison, comparing an oncologists to his not well kept lobby. The patients are like the old magazines, torn, stained and have no mood to take and read any books and the Oncologists might have wanted to remind the care takers symbolically. As long as the patients are cleared of cancerous cells, thank the doctors and take care of your loved ones with not much fuss.

2 1 Reply
Mark Heathcote 24 July 2012

A serious subject with pinch of irony a good read.

1 0 Reply
Captain Cur 23 July 2012

They say don't eat in a restaurant with a filthy bathroom. How much more true with a doctor's office. Well written, keenly observed especially the part about the magazines that were offered as solace for the inconsolable.

1 0 Reply
Lynn Stillman 22 July 2012

The reality of this breaks my heart. People fighting for their lives deserve so much more respect and basic needs met. You paint a vivid picture because of your way with words. Like looking through the lens of a camera. Painful To read but very enlightening. Thank you for this Lynn Stillman

1 0 Reply
Jayne Davies 23 July 2013

Thank you so much for sharing this true and vivid description of your experience x If only some were to put a little thought into how Cancer patients actually feel, and thought for their loved ones! It's those little things that are presented to us that give us the hope and will to fight on! Well done for pointing these errors out. A cheerful Environment means everything x

0 0 Reply
Duke Perry Abrokwa 12 February 2020

this poem is sad but out standing, good job Robin Bennett

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Kumarmani Mahakul 25 March 2019

Cancer ridden bones sucks the dim light and this poem is vert thought provoking. This poem is very amazing penned.10

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Sara Fielder 23 July 2014

I like the visuals you use to try to make the oncologists office seem normal...they contrast sharply with the horror you must have been feeling inside as you wait for the doctor who has your fathers life in his hands. There is nothing normal about that, so these distractions are what we look to keep from facing what is too much for our minds to bear.

0 0 Reply
Victoria Gauci 23 July 2013

Very moving and vividly real.

0 0 Reply
Sj Holland 23 July 2013

I enjoyed the poignancy of it and the comparison, as well as the free-flowing format..

0 0 Reply
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Robin Bennett

Robin Bennett

New Orleans, La USA
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