The Battle

by Lorrie Salvetti
(Sonora, Ca.)

Cancer can be brutal
leaving scars both emotionally and physically

it shakes the earth from beneath our feet
beckoning us to fall

we do not escape without being wounded
without stumbling, without knowing fear

but we continue to fight
rising above time and time again
never willingly surrendering to the beast
spitting in the face of adversity

we are warriors
we survivors