A Close Thing

Jean drew the curtains and stared blankly outside

at the snow which had fallen last night,

Her thoughts turned to David, she quietly sighed

almost nine years since he’d lost his fight.

It was snowing that day she laid him to rest

in a church packed with family and friends,

With three wonderful children they had been blessed

and three sets of twins like bookends.

They were totally shocked how he wasted away

how the Cancer had spread really fast,

He wasn’t even sixty, but looked old and grey

but it still broke their hearts when he passed.

Jean had made a vow to keep checking herself

always started with checking her breasts,

She knew it was vital to keep in good health

and to maintain those regular tests.

She had examined herself a few days ago

what she’d felt made her heart skip and jump,

She stared at the rain lashing on the window

she was sure she had felt a small lump.

She’d hoped it might pass - be just a sham

that the weird sensation would go,

But it didn’t, so she’d arranged a mammogram

in the next few days she would know.

Jean never told anyone, she waited alone

watched out for the post every day,

The thought of Cancer chilled her to the bone

she had thought about going away.

It arrived on Monday, lay there on the mat

she sat on the stairs in dressing gown,

Wished she could phone her girls, have a long chat

in floods of tears she started to drown.

She plucked up courage calmly picked up the letter

went into the kitchen put the kettle on,

A strong cup of coffee would make her feel better

that awful feeling of dread would be gone.

She placed the letter on the marmalade jar

then tore it open, read the first line,

Dear Mrs Jones it’s with pleasure we are

pleased to tell you the cyst is benign.

Her children couldn’t understand why the next night

she took them all for a sumptuous meal.

Jean vowed never to tell them of her real fright

what she’d gone through, she’d never reveal.