In early 2019, my husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Cholangiocarcinoma. We had two young children and another on the way. In his darkest moments, Chris turned to poetry. The poem was never titled, but here is his poem about cancer.

Cancer by Chris Baldwin

 It used to just be a word,
one that I tried not to think about too much.

Now I’m so afraid.

It’s a low-down dirty word,
that steals from everyone it touches.

Sadness, loss, and anger.

It’s everything that could have been,
but now somehow is so different.

It’s a new baby being welcomed to this world,
an elderly couple saying goodbye before they are ready,
and a husband trying to know what to tell his son.

It’s knowing what you’re going to leave behind,
The best-laid plans just aren’t so anymore.

And we fight on.
Fuck you, cancer.

Writing poetry soothes the soul of the author, and in return, leaves a gift that can unburden the reader.

Chris passed away three months after writing this poem.

In addition to the stress relief that writing provided Chris, it has also given insight into his fears and provides healing feelings to me. It represents all of the feelings he had but never expressed to me.

I hold these words, captured by him, like a piece of his soul, and in a way, he lives on.

You can read more about the healing power of poetry as well as it’s ability to turn words into meaningful images in my blog post: Why You Need Poetry: The Power in a Poem.

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If someone you love has cancer, here are Twelve Ways You Can Support Them.