Antidotes
Clare Bercot Zwerling
by Clare Bercot Zwerling
Because there were wild turkeys
emerging from the mist
gossiping and squabbling as
they trundled past the
living room picture window
because the moon never wavered
because she sent me the
fluffiest white blanket
and ginger tea
for my china teacup
because someone said
Oh, your skeleton is just
perfectly formed
because the white irises
bloomed every day
heedless of the tall grass
surrounding them
because the messages were about
cats and love and caring
friends miles away
yet intimately close
because healing is the possible
because of these reasons
and so many more
I am alive today.
Clare Bercot Zwerling is a cancer survivor living in Fort Bragg, CA. She wrote this poem, after completing treatment, to remember the good things that happened during treatment.
