pjwbx2230
Silver Member
Some of you may remember my story fronm the Winter, regarding my plowing an elderly neighbors drive. He and I befriended one another. We each have sick wives. He had cancer/ my wife is at Stage 4 breast cancer. We also have three year old girls in our lives (Kathleen (our daughter and Scooter(his granddaughter)). I went to plow his drive shortly after learning about my wife's metastasis to her right lung. It also happened to be the day beforethe anniversary of his landing on Iwo Jima (4th Marine Division) and his daughter's birthday. I wrote a poem about this encounter. Here it is:
FROM THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA
Written by Patrick Williams
Dedicated to Annette Williams- Future Cancer survivor
And my neighbor and hero of Iwo Jima
An orange tractor sat idling quietly in a drive
An old man and younger man stood by it, talking about their wives.
Both were concerned about their loved one’s health-
Something that, when taken away, cannot be replaced by any wealth.
Each of the men’s wives had been “under the knife”
Both women had fought courageously through their strife.
Yet, neither woman was through fighting her fight
And things, for each family, were far from alright.
Neither the old man nor the young man had the answer-
Though the old man, like the young man’s wife, had a bout with cancer.
They met when the young man did a simple, neighborly deed
And plowed the old man’s drive when he saw him in need.
“Doing unto others”, as taught from an early age
Brought the two men together- one callow, the other sage
Separated by two score years, the two had more in common than most would guess-
Sick wives, three year olds, and cancer- all which cause stress.
On this particular Sunday which the young man arrived
To, once again, be neighborly and plow his new old friend’s drive,
He arrived bearing an extremely heavy heart,
For the young man had terrible news to impart.
The old man came out to greet his new, young friend.
They spoke to each other about their troubles without end.
It was then that the young man told his friend the cancer was back,
In spite of the valiant effort to ward of its attack.
The old man stood with a tear in his eye.
He said, “Tomorrow, I will pray and cry.
Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of my landing on Iwo,
And it is the forty-first birthday of my daughter also.
Son, you and your wife are in my prayers,
And, when this thing seems more than you can bear,
Remember your old neighbor friend.
If I made it through Iwo, you will see this through to the end.”
The young man left the driveway with a feeling of amaze.
The sagacious old man had caused his spirits to raise.
His wise words had counseled that this battle can be won.
Just because the cancer came back, all was not done.
So, thank you for the wise words, old friend
And allow our wives to recover and mend.
I look forward to talking about only happy things,
Such as the joy that your granddaughter and our children bring.
Annette is doing well and the cancer is currently in retreat. Things are looking up , compared to those dark February days. Thanks for any and all of your thoughts and prayers. Sorry I have not posted in awhile.
God Bless,
Pat
FROM THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA
Written by Patrick Williams
Dedicated to Annette Williams- Future Cancer survivor
And my neighbor and hero of Iwo Jima
An orange tractor sat idling quietly in a drive
An old man and younger man stood by it, talking about their wives.
Both were concerned about their loved one’s health-
Something that, when taken away, cannot be replaced by any wealth.
Each of the men’s wives had been “under the knife”
Both women had fought courageously through their strife.
Yet, neither woman was through fighting her fight
And things, for each family, were far from alright.
Neither the old man nor the young man had the answer-
Though the old man, like the young man’s wife, had a bout with cancer.
They met when the young man did a simple, neighborly deed
And plowed the old man’s drive when he saw him in need.
“Doing unto others”, as taught from an early age
Brought the two men together- one callow, the other sage
Separated by two score years, the two had more in common than most would guess-
Sick wives, three year olds, and cancer- all which cause stress.
On this particular Sunday which the young man arrived
To, once again, be neighborly and plow his new old friend’s drive,
He arrived bearing an extremely heavy heart,
For the young man had terrible news to impart.
The old man came out to greet his new, young friend.
They spoke to each other about their troubles without end.
It was then that the young man told his friend the cancer was back,
In spite of the valiant effort to ward of its attack.
The old man stood with a tear in his eye.
He said, “Tomorrow, I will pray and cry.
Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of my landing on Iwo,
And it is the forty-first birthday of my daughter also.
Son, you and your wife are in my prayers,
And, when this thing seems more than you can bear,
Remember your old neighbor friend.
If I made it through Iwo, you will see this through to the end.”
The young man left the driveway with a feeling of amaze.
The sagacious old man had caused his spirits to raise.
His wise words had counseled that this battle can be won.
Just because the cancer came back, all was not done.
So, thank you for the wise words, old friend
And allow our wives to recover and mend.
I look forward to talking about only happy things,
Such as the joy that your granddaughter and our children bring.
Annette is doing well and the cancer is currently in retreat. Things are looking up , compared to those dark February days. Thanks for any and all of your thoughts and prayers. Sorry I have not posted in awhile.
God Bless,
Pat
