I have a story to tell
It’s spiritual, poignant
and real

a young man, my son,
Fought a brave battle
No, not on some foreign soil
Right here inside his head
A seizure…

Oh god, what’s happening?
Briefly, I feared he was dead

Waiting…scared…what to do
What to think…
Tests of all sorts…

cancer

A brain tumor
They said

Go home, enjoy Christmas
Then surgery
We’ll open his head

We tried to enjoy the season
With a sword hanging over
Us all
Though each of us
All five…
secretly
wept at times
Knowing it was going
To fall