A dear friend called me yesterday,
To inquire,"How are you?"
I answered,"Fine, no problems here!"
Yet this was far from true.

I'd stubbed my toe, lost my job,
The pipes had burst, the pup had died,
But so that my voice would not crack,
I swallowed hard......... and lied.

My friend , I know,  suffers much more,
From the ills this life can throw.
Terminal cancer for many months now,
With very few left to go.

She deserves only a joyful voice,
a smiling and carefree face,
to be her last remaining memories,
while embarking from this place.