October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, focusing on strength, fearlessness and coming together. In my book, “Living Namaste Photography and Spoken Word Poetry“, I wrote about Marilyn who embraced all of these characteristics and so much more because she touched my life in such a profound way. While receiving chemo, she played her harp for all and created such calmness for everyone. Here is the excerpt from the book and here’s to you Marilyn!
Harp and Soul
The monitor’s flashing lights
Steady
Scary
Stared at as if it was the judge and jury
On the verge of the verdict
A pronouncement of fate
All the while the machine scans take control
Beep after Beep
Drip after drip
Can chemo be convicted of a murder charge
Please God
Kill the cancer within
Each person around the room
So many stories to speak
Hearts yearning for those once
Incidental moments of
Ordinary life
Now Grown extraordinary in scope
Lifelines of hope
Intimacy and sterility
Each has been touched
Tested Scanned and cut
With scars left to heal
Similarities and differences
References and preferences
Fear and fight
Courage not cancer must survive
Must have might to see the light
A woman in the chemo room
Tubes and drips
Connected and grounded and yet
Etherial
A gentle spirit
A musician of the heart
Soul soothing sounds unbound
The freed notes float with a whisper of hope
The mystical magic streaming from her harp
The tremor of a string to calm
The tremors caused by fear
Comforting held so dear
The musician
The patient
The healer as one
Thinking of others
The gifting to others
The lifting of others
I bow to you my teacher
“Namaste”
Your divine life a work of art
Inspiring us all to do our part
Create a melody of sanctuary and shelter
A presence so soothing and soul centered
Harmony and healing.