When They Learned That Their Mother Has Cervical Cancer Poem by RIC BASTASA

stage III
and the son says let us all do what we can to save her
we take her to the best hospital in the city
have chemotheraphy
some radiation
ask for second opinions
have the operation

and the daughter says
let us try some quacks too, and the herbs and
invoke the spirits of our ancestors to heal mother

and the son-in-law has no word for this
but in his mind he thinks: there is no hope for this
let her live for the remaining moments and let death take her gently

let her kiss her grandchildren a very gentle and sweet goodbye

say something.