An  American Cancer

a cure complete cannot be found

say the doctors of the land

the patient cries "I had life planned!"

when the taxman comes around

there could be cure,could be worse

than that tentative first cell slice

integrity, discipline, responsible life

no insurance covers this curse

expectations frightening

no one is content today

remembering another way

old anthems they used to sing

oh, God, I pray in earnest need

our Forefathers legacy

renew a vision we can see

cancer's scalpel cancel greed

once pure, sweet promise filled

now an obfuscatory lie

cheating, greedy cells of white

must succumb to the higher willed

rally, rally, remission that is

a fight, a call, a battle ground

where treatment must be bound

in shaking up the listlessness

no settling down and sinking

no heavy sighs accept this would be

conquering falsetto mockery

awake, aware, unblinking

much invested purse strings

much embellished fears rule

easy denial for today's fool

when discussing fragile things

a delicate situation that

when emotion comes in play

cool minds must rule the day

if honest hearts combat

the surgeons are willing

their instruments are lost

honor, integrity, such great cost

while needful blood is spilling

and who will we sue

if all has one day failed

and human grace lies still and pale

will we regret what we did not do?

Kathy Adams