I am sorry to have to report that my husband, Maxwell Krawez, passed away on June 8, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. It sounds so trite to say, “after a long battle with cancer,” but it’s true. Max was a valiant and determined warrior against this terrible, brutal and unconscionable affliction. I would like to report more now and analyze what worked and what hurt, but I’m too despondent at the moment to go on. I will write more later when I have the ability to take a look back over the course of his disease. In the meantime, here’s a copy of my poem  Topic of Cancer, which I originally wrote for Max in 2009.

Topic of Cancer

You spread your alien seed

Parasitic sprawl

Cellular congestion

Into membrane, soft tissue, muscularis

Gnarled tendrils stretch toward lymph nodes

Hitchhike a ride for far-flung organs

To populate new territory

Gorge on liver and spleen

With the stealth of a determined insurgent

You steal upon unsuspecting systems

Consume skin, connective tissue, blood vessels, bone.

Until little is left to feast upon

But I refuse to let you feed on flesh without a fight

I zap you with current

Douse with poison

Excise with knives

Repel with optimism

And plan for a future without you.

Grasp daylight between frightened fingers

Insulate myself with tender dreams and renegade visions

Even as you send paralyzing probes deep within

I defend with well-prepared potions

Change biology through chemistry

Antioxidants, fiber, meditation, spirituality

Believe that magic and miracles mixed with the

correct measure of aminos

Can reverse the continental drift

Away from tantalizing tissue, succulent cells

All the while aware

I invited you in the first place

I’m being a terrible host

But you, like most guests, have overstayed your welcome

And must be taken by the tentacle and shown the specimen bag