Michael Ellis Poet Blank verse

Notes About The Poem

 

A family friend named Sharon was struck down with Cancer in the best part of her life. She came to the door one day after so many surgical procedures with a coffin catalog. I could never imagine having to select my own coffin or flower arrangements...I write this poem for her.
 

Thirty-Eight, Cancer Poem: For Sharon

Thirty Eight ( Corny Cancer Poem) For Sharon

Hallmark has a million cards in their catalog
And not one of them says,
Life Sucks
American greetings had nothing that says
Thirty-eight and  Never coming home
So I hope it’s not too late to write this poem


After your eighth round of Chemo,
The Doctor says the best medicine is prayer
Any Pre-med drop out
Or High school Health student
Can interpret what this means
But it still just isn’t fair-


           Still who am I to be a pessimist?


And I apologize for screaming at your surgeons
(Telling  them to stop comparing 
your tumors to fruit)
For telling them you aren’t a damn fruit stand
Even for tossing those fruit diagrams 
In the Hazmat can

Sorry if I let things get out of hand

Tomorrow they get to pull out
Their zapper instruments
And shoot at your cells like you are
One of those Nintendo video games
Over and over again
And I get to sit in the waiting room
Hoping the red cells surrender
And the white ones win

  
And Tylenol has a zillion dollars
And can’t even find a cure for cancer
Bayer pharmaceuticals has no answer

And if you die at thirty-eight
I’ll probably boycott Tylenol
For the next twenty-three years
Advil for the next twenty-two
Blaming both of them
For not saving you


Forty calls to Bayer pharmaceuticals 
And not a single one returned
What kind of heroes are they
When they aren’t even concerned?


And I’m pissed off at Obama
And Dr. Phil and Oprah too
And all Nationally syndicated talk show host
Who are talking about who slept with who
When they should be talking about 
YOU


I’m also ticked at a thousand Nazis
And twenty millions gangbangers 
And eight-hundred serial killers
Who have working organs
When all you need is just one-


Still I know you wouldn’t even accept it
Even if there was a law that said you could
And you would say something corny like
God loves bad people as much
As he does the good

And i wish i could snatch 
half of my lymph nodes
And give them to you
But no Doctor would approve the surgery

So what else can i do
Except write this silly poem for you
except watch you lose weight and hair
And listen to doctors suggest prayer

And more chemo only means
More Hallmark moments at the hospital
And more crying, more dying
More doctors and chaplains lying


But mostly I’ll never get to figure out
How it took you thirty minutes
At Build-A-Yogurt in the mall
And they only had six flavors-
Even after I told you
Chocolate Coconut Sprinkle
 Was really the best of all


Tonight your children get to sleep in your bed
And pretend You’re coming home
And I get to cry for them and finish
This corny cancer poems

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Rowena Velasco July 21, 2025 at 4:46 AM This poem really touched me deeply. It feels so real and raw—the anger, the helplessness, the moments of dark humor mixed with sorrow. Reading it reminded me how painful and unfair cancer is, especially when it strikes someone so young and full of life. The love and grief shine through every line, making it a powerful tribute to Sharon and all who face this battle.

Richard Lamoureux March 25, 2021 at 3:47 PM What a beautifully sad account. Yes laughter can coexist with sadness. This touched me. I like how you write. Quite the first poem. You have been here for a while. Blessings Rick.

Maria Sharon Moemise June 5, 2018 at 5:13 AM Your poem touched my soul. This poem is so sad, yet a bit of light heartedness can also be detected, and it hits home. You have a wonderful writing style and ability. I'm also Sharon, and I'm a cancer survivor. I pray that your Sharon get/got the best treatment and the she' comfortable. Keep writing such beautiful poetry.

Patti Rogers January 25, 2018 at 9:14 PM My granddaughter would like to use this poem for UIL. has it been published and by whom? Michael Ellis January 30, 2018 at 3:44 PM This Poem is my Poem and has not been published as of yet. She can use the poem. It is just my request that I be updated on the results of the Usage..Thank You!

Catie Johnson July 11, 2017 at 3:51 PM Hello, My name is Catie Johnson and I read your poem 'Thirty-Eight, Cancer Poem: For Sharon', and I absolutely loved it. I would like to do it in a UIL poetry competition, but the problem is that I need your real name for the poem to qualify. I really love this poem, and I believe I could do it a justice on reading. If you could please tell me I would be very grateful. Thank-you, Catie Michael Ellis July 11, 2017 at 11:56 PM My name is Michael Ellis...Please let me know of your experience. I wish you success... Thanks you for your inquiry..

Marie Faye February 29, 2016 at 6:53 PM Hello, My name is Carrie and I have personally been impacted with cancer and your poem really hit home for me. I am in forensics and debate at my school and I would like to perform your poem, with your permission of course. Please e-mail me at [email protected] as soon as you can. it would be greatly appreciated. Michael Ellis July 25, 2016 at 4:35 AM I do hope your event well but mostly that you blessed others with great intention...Love will always be the equalizer

Megan George February 4, 2016 at 6:17 PM Hello, my name is Megan and I would like to ask if I could us your beautiful poem to perform for a forensic (competitive acting) tournament. I have lost people to cancer before and my best friend is fighting it right now so I feel you. please contact me at [email protected] asap thank you

Ayesha Karim December 30, 2015 at 12:22 PM This is a great poem about the friend or love one you lost to cancer! I quit smoking at age 33 1/2 and I hope I never get cancer. Happy New Year M.e.

Skat A December 29, 2015 at 5:19 PM POET ME...., Congratulations on having your poem featured on the soups home page during the last week of 2015 and beginning of 2016 :) awesome way to start the year... Enjoy the coming Year.... SKAT

Edith D Eutsler December 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM Wonderful poem M.e. I live with the word cancer everyday and miss my family so much. four children, their father, both my parents, brother and wonder whose next.. I THANK God for saving all their souls-what a reunion there will be when He calls me home. I am ready when God is!!! Thank you for your poem! Michael Ellis December 25, 2015 at 4:31 PM Thank You Edith...Happy Holidays..May God have his hand on your life...The Good memories can never be taken...The love lingers long after

Skat A November 14, 2015 at 9:02 AM WOW featured a second time. A peoples fav. SKAT

Olive Eloisa Guillermo - Fraser August 6, 2015 at 6:56 AM wow, you got me again magnetized.. I like how you make the sad situation concerning cancer patients very humane....Im a nurse and I've seen so many patients having such illness... if im the patients, surely you will somehow help me in few minutes to forget Im sick.. your words are comforting.thank you for sharing.. your titles really great..a fave again~Olive ELoisa..=')

J Hamilton Gist July 24, 2015 at 3:33 PM This is an exquisite peace of work.

Harry Horsman July 24, 2015 at 10:45 AM This is truly Awesome, the poetry fits the mood, and this needed to be written...

Margaret Franceschini July 14, 2015 at 7:29 PM Dear Me: Poetry gives us a chance to pour out our inner soul with joy or pain and to share with kindred spirited poets who will help you carry your pain just by reading and remarking. I'm sorry. please continue to express. Michael Ellis July 14, 2015 at 10:56 PM So honored by your words...Lets use poetry to heal, comfort and encourage..I look forward to reading your poems as soon as I return from my trip to Los Angeles

Rubene Avellar July 14, 2015 at 8:30 AM So sad...but so real

Probir Gupta July 12, 2015 at 2:02 AM Ah! Your poem, on reading just twice, shuts my window, and leads me to my deep inside, where I do find myself in empathy with you. Oh! How tormenting, to bear with what is unbearable. Your poetic rendition of individual helplessness and anguish will touch all sensitive souls. My youngest brother died of this when he was just thirty. I do feel both your poetry and your pain.

Skat A July 11, 2015 at 3:07 AM Poet Me, :) Congratulations on having your poem featured on the soups, Home Page. I'M DEEPLY MOVED BY YOUR POEM.... ~SKAT LOVE~

Paul Callus July 10, 2015 at 12:25 PM This is very strong and emotional. Friends and relatives of mine have died of cancer; one passed away in just a week, another suffered for over 7 years. My prayers go to the victims and those who suffer with them. ~ Finally, welcome to the site! // paul

Debbie Duncan July 9, 2015 at 10:17 PM Awesome poem, My dad died of throat cancer, and my brother about 4 years ago of liver cancer. So I get what you said up there ! Michael Ellis July 9, 2015 at 11:21 PM Means so much to me

Cecilia Macfarlane July 9, 2015 at 3:54 PM I can feel your frustration, sadness and anger in this emotive write but also your strength. You must help keep Sharon strong with positively, laughter and love. My heart goes out to you all. Hugs Michael Ellis July 9, 2015 at 4:35 PM 1000 Hugs for you Cecilia From a thousand miles away Let's change 1,000 lives

Viv Wigley July 9, 2015 at 2:03 PM Having lost two immediate relatives, both below the age of fity-five, I feel your pain. Hope that you writing this and getting it off your chest proved cathartic.And so it should. Welcome to Poetry Soup- I hope you find a little joy in sharing and reading your works here. Regards, Viv Michael Ellis July 9, 2015 at 4:36 PM Your words are so appreciated

Aleera De La Keur July 9, 2015 at 1:49 PM Wow... This made me cry. My aunt died of cancer less than a year ago. Her name was... No, is Debi. She beat cancer 3 times the fourth, killed her or rather her oncologist killed her. He never told her it was back until it was too late. I took care of her the last 2 months of her life, even moved in next door. Then before she was dead other family raided her house & took her things. I hate cancer. Michael Ellis July 9, 2015 at 4:36 PM Thank you for each one of your beautiful words and thoughts..Hope is the greatest medicine and miracle we have

Maria Sharon Moemise July 9, 2015 at 1:40 PM My name is Sharon. I beat cancer last year. I've been cancer free for exactly one year this July. Your poem hit home in so many ways, I felt I was back there. Thank you for this wonderful and free-spirited poem. It is really inspiring and so beautifully written. I'm sorry about your friend and my namesake, Sharon.

Ken Brower July 9, 2015 at 1:28 PM Wow! I totally feel what you feel. Cancer has paid my family a visit also. It is so frustrating. Your poem touches emotions. Thanks for sharing.

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