Grappling

Eleanor feels her strength ebb like a river dried by heat she sinks to the hospital floor chemotherapy stalks her, sometimes weakens her resolve breaks her like a fireball staff support her, lift her to a chair offer the stale ugliness of words: "Get tough girl!" Regaining ground, she jokes to name her rebel cells: "Curly, Larry and Moe" malformed bits that divide, spread, growth grotesque Cancer's aerial roots like ivy adhering to the human stems of hope Her diagnosis snared her well ordered life, hoisted sails of hospital gowns to blunt her vision Blood samples, lab tests, IV's, rays that X her soul a restless swirl to solve the puzzle to sculpt her body whole what she wishes as Eleanor holds promise tight grim jawed in an ordeal that steals her essence a train that chugs and shudders her search beyond the rails Poem composed: June 21, 2021