National Poetry Month was inaugurated in 1996. To begin, it needed poets and poems. But to continue it does need that basic of basics – money. If you are so inclined follow the link to support Poets.org Donate! They are offering gifts!
Our Poet today is Laura Beasley with a poem written in 2000.
Touch the Sky
written by Laura Beasley
I have cancer and I might die.
Fatigued and exhausted, on this bed, I lie.
Still my spirit wants to touch the sky
And my soul throughout the universe fly.
Fatigued and exhausted, on this bed, I lie.
Still my spirit wants to touch the sky
And my soul throughout the universe fly.
Cancer is a blessing, cancer is a curse.
But cancer is far from the very worse.
Depression would need its very own verse
With hours of time about which to converse.
For me there has been a transformation of life,
Challenges, struggles and significant strife.
To be a different kind of mother, a different kind of wife
Cuts at my being like a razor-sharp knife.
I was a whirlwind of activity, standing proud and tall.
Now I’m little more than an inert flesh ball.
The shadows hang like dark night fall
And into my bed, I once again crawl.
7/26/00
TLS Writers 
Laura, your poetry is so meaningful! Being able to write about such a life-changing and fearful time period is such a blessing. On a technical note, I enjoyed the rhyming within each verse. Brava~~ xo Liz
Yes, powerful. What a treasure of work you have.
Your experiences with cancer were so profound, and still are. I’ve been down in the well twice, and I know how painful it can be to reconnect with those feelings. It’s inspiring to read your writing and to know how much you enjoy life today!
XXOO
Laura H
Laura,
All of your poems from that period really resonate with the cocktail of emotions and thoughts that you were feeling. It’s so real that I thought I needed to make sure the date of writing was up front and center. It’s so wonderful that you were able to share that depth of emotion in your writing. I hope it brings strength to someone else!
What a vivid description about that dark time in your life-and NOW look at you! You really brought it to life.
Powerful!