My Amazing Sister

I Am From Surviving



I am from backpacks

and back to school shopping,

and faking fevers cuz of three mean teachers.

I am from slithering snakes, barking dogs,

purring cats, and chirping birds.

I am from three tall palm trees spotted

from the freeway

and a thorn scraped hand from an

old poky century plant.

I’m from ding-dong-ditching

and creations of music and singing

with bats dancing to the band in the twilight

of the night sky.

I’m from Ric and Sheri

and unconditional love,

siblings that rock and a celestial one above.

I’m from big beautiful creatures

galloping through the trees

and 25 cent lemonade

on a hot summer day, waiting for a breeze.

I am from “Don’t make that face or it will stick”

and “Clean your room! It looks like a hurricane hit!”

I’m from an eternal husband,

love, laughter, snorts, and jokes.

I am from chocolate malted crunch ice cream cones,

Friday night pizza and Disney movies.

I am from tragedy and hope,

faith in God when things are out of my control.

I am from hair buzzers twice

and Relay’s for Life.

I am from words no one should ever have to hear,

“You have cancer. The cancer spread. I’m sorry dear,”

and words that no one should have to know,

R-Chop, Methotrexate, Neupogen, Neulasta.

I’m from “Get well soon!” and “I hope I never see you again,

unless of course you’re here to visit.”

I am from family, friends, and strangers prayers

from around the world, they all were heard.

I am from a stem cell transplant and the words “you’re cured”

I am from battling and surviving.



By Shelsi Stolworthy

24 February 2011

EDML 461