March 13, 2005
The Gift
A friend is dying
four years of
cancer
breast
brain
liver
two sons wed
three daughters now
four trips abroad
two healing circles
forty CAT scans
a million
anxious moments
a thousand
joyful hours
now
the end
is near
and we,
her friends
are given
a gift
a plain red cooler
just outside
the door
while inside
she lays dying
a receptacle
for our love
and concern
which we fill
with offerings
each day
in turn
food for those
who keep
the vigil
a precious gift
something
to do
in the face
of death