Years ago, my professor had cancer.
Her diagnosis left her with no answers.

So she told her students that it would be nice
To stop by her office and say something kind.
     Because she was having a very hard time.

I found it odd. What difference would it make
For this classroom to comment on her fate?

But they did, they did! And to my surprise
They baked her a cake, said prayers; cried!
     Yet she still died.

Maybe we should have kept our cakes at home.
Maybe we should have said our prayers alone.