Haiku for Nancy

Childhood
You wore a blue coat
That was handed down from me
Warm big sister love

Routine
I hear Nancy’s voice
As I stop by after school
Don’t let the cats out!

Anxiety
Inside Nancy’s house
The smell of cookies baking
Tells me she’s OK

Denial
We sit at the booth
And talk about the weather
Ignoring the beast

Bravado
As long as we laugh
And tell our silly stories
Cancer is speechless

Hope
A long gray winter
Of sick days on a blue couch
Fades away to Spring

Still Life
One teal rose opens
On a winter windowsill
Fragrant remission