Notes About The Poem

Rest in peace, my dear cousin. He fought his battle from stage 4 cancer well. 

Closeup Shots and Distant Thunder

There is the immediate and the atmosphere.
Fear of war; touchdown of velociraptors;
a quiet passing; a once again tragedy of
paper rolls, a teacher tripping, tires rolling.

Closeup shots and distant thunder; its cracklings.
Hanging by a thread, sometimes deluded into
thinking things will be alright; with Jesus they are.

The ups and downs; the coaster lumbering over
the camel’s humps; the plummet from Everest;
the mighty arms of our Creator sustains the blows.

Eventually, the coaster comes to rest; wow,
those pearly gates, the mindblowing light that shines;
Jesus will wipe every tear from your eyes.

From my cousin’s eyes, from his two year battle.
His mama, four years ago, on the same day.
Sandwich hugs from his mom and dad. wow.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Greenhough Avatar
March 22, 2026 at 7:51 PM
I wish your poetry will help bring you peace. It is a gentle tribute to his memory. Thank you for sharing this.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 24, 2026 at 10:49 AM
TY
Etgen-Baker Avatar
March 19, 2026 at 5:21 PM
'sandwich' hug = perfect. Loved this metaphorical tribute. Nicely penned.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 24, 2026 at 10:49 AM
TY
Callus Avatar
March 14, 2026 at 4:25 AM
I was touched by this metaphorical tribute/poem, Kim. There are moments in life in which the only healing power comes from faith and prayer. Condolences. // paul
Rodrigues Avatar
March 14, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Thank you so much, Paul. Catharsis in poetry. We dig deep to express ourselves. Hugs
Jones Avatar
March 11, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Kim I love the visual representation of your word’s sandwich hug. Yes he is reunited with loved ones in the Father’s house. This was hopefully a healing write. It was a sad but important read. Thank you for sharing.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 11, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Thank you, Karen!
DiMino Avatar
March 11, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Yes, faith is everything. Science and their answers are always changing -- but a conscious relationship with Christ is profound truth. He speaks to us daily.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 11, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Yes, he does. Thank you, Joe!
Blanca Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 6:44 PM
this too shall pass and memories will linger for us to remember.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Yes, true. Thank you.
Godwin Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 10:17 AM
We should be grieving cousin loss together. Do you recall "My Matt and Karey"/potd, 4 young cousins chasing fireflies? Matt was born in '59, & healthy until Nov. Aggressive Cancer was in many organs, hospice came fast. Our loves are free, their earth purposed served. I got to see him and though much bigger than me, even thin, I held him in my lap, rocked him & patted his back. We all have fav cousins. Karey is last 1 standing in her core family. We present tense LOVE them, yes? did you see him?
Godwin Avatar
March 12, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Hey, do you think they're presence will earth remain via Soup's permanent embrace of both as inked by us? Is that too weird of a thought and an indication I should go to bed? Rhetorical
Rodrigues Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I do remember your poem. So sorry for your loss, CayCay. My cousin, John, was in his later 50’s. Too young. I was blessed to visit in January. So glad that his family let me come over. We had a nice pic together and his young son photobombed so it is a sweet memory. Hugs
Godwin Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 10:23 AM
What tore me up most at the end was the thought of Matt being scared. I asked him, and he whispered, 'no, didn't consider that option.' I truly believe God often takes a spirit before the body is dead should there be unbearable pain. I will be thinking of you, BIG hug squeeze ...
Buhagiar Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM
I admire your faith in God. Cancer is terrible. Your allusions to pain are very interesting.
Rodrigues Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Thank you, Victor. A sad loss..he fought the good fight.
Hind Avatar
March 9, 2026 at 11:21 AM
It seems you are saying there is nothing where God isn't in the midst- internal and external, you have some emotive metaphors, " the coaster lumbering over the camel’s humps; the plummet from Everest;" from the first to the last of this "ride"- you captured the tide of cancer. This work is genius, Kim. I like your use of "wow"- sometimes the right words just aren't there, wow- you put it. <3
Rodrigues Avatar
March 10, 2026 at 6:02 AM
I always appreciate you, Paige. xx
Hind Avatar
March 9, 2026 at 4:43 PM
I was thinking of this poem all day- and it seems you wrote of the great hunger and fasting that goes along with cancer, then the end of suffering. "velociraptors" is a powerful metaphor. I just wanted you to know a reader is dissecting this. Amazing work, dear poetess
Rodrigues Avatar
March 9, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Thank you, Paige! I appreciate your insight. Hugs
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