Overwinter — NaPoWriMo Day #19 — a poem for loved ones battling cancer with chemotherapy

For Uncle John and Patrick

A friendlier climate is desired
but you chose to fight to the finish,
so we'll overwinter here in the blizzard.

Blue skies turn to shades of gray
and hair tumbles from your scalp
like slow-motion acid rain.
It eats away at all you think
makes up the man you are.

But you are more than what you look like,
more than what happens to you,
and more than any number on a chart.
None of the above can define you.

This season's storms can intimidate,
can appear so threatening
that we lose our faith.
But let's lean into the winter
with hope for spring buds
and summer days.

Photo by: Marcus Cramer