- With Mayo Clinic nurse educator
Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
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Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
Sheryl M. Ness
Sheryl Ness, R.N., O.C.N., is a nurse educator for the Cancer Education Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She helps inform patients, families and caregivers about services and resources to help them through the cancer journey.
She has a master's degree in nursing from Augsburg College. In addition, she is an assistant professor of oncology at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and is certified as a specialist in oncology nursing. Sheryl has worked for more than 20 years at Mayo Clinic as an educator. She has a keen interest in the importance of the quality of life and concerns of people living with cancer.
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Living with cancer blog
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Oct. 6, 2012
Poetry can express the emotions of living with cancer
By Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
Each of us has our own way of gaining positive energy to get through the day. When faced with a diagnosis of cancer, the little things become even more important. It could be your favorite music, a comfortable chair, your best friend, a pet that keeps you company or the sunshine streaming in through the window.
Recently, I began exploring poetry and found that as I was reading, I gained a peek into the author's thoughts and their view of life. Poetry can seem like a simple collection of words, but it expresses deep emotions and complex thoughts.
We've not done this before, but I thought it would be interesting to try sharing a few lines of poetry with each other to gain insight into the emotions of living with cancer. In this way, you'll know that you aren't alone.
Here are some thoughts that I put into poetry in the form of a haiku.
The wind blows the scent
from my grandmother's wild rose.
I feel love, hope, peace.
Please share your poetry on the blog with each other. Write about your emotions, feelings, fears, hopes and dreams. Don't worry about form or structure, just write what you feel. Spend 5-10 minutes quietly thinking and see what images or words come to your mind. When the time feels right, let the words flow.
Follow me on Twitter at @SherylNess1. Join the discussion at #livingwithcancer.
6 comments posted
May 9, 2013 11:07 p.m.
THE BLACK DOT There’s a back dot atop my left hand 27 bones within unaffected in their precise movement by that black dot a circle the size of a hand rolled cig – but my badge nevertheless. placed there at the 1st Battle of my Roses The longest battleday- over 10 hours, drip, drip, slowly, then rapid heartbeat ,dt’s , shakes Cold- frigid cold, unwarmed by blankets, Unhorsed I cried : “more , please more blankets” and they eased the drugs slowly, slowly then Maxwellian, drip, drip to the last drop the fluids attacked…whom? what? Russianlike, I engage a daily war of Red and White armies not knowing , even now not knowing whether I favor the Russian Red Army or the White Army I have a lovely lp of the Russian Red Army singing I know about Snow White, white and even yellow snow. A singular drop of water in a pool of blood Life- force flowing ebbs into a wan pink Spreading slowly sunset into its pond… The War of leukocytes – G-d what an ugly word I had to check it’s spelling –white blood cells from the Greek leucos, clear, white. I shall be white lain on a white/ chrome table and the leucos shall have won-. I’s rather they were spelled with a “d” - lewd- Struck deep in my throat. Lances drawn these white soldiers posted Up and down thoracically Jousting here, cutting there, causing an itch Developing a cough to be visited by doctors in white A white knight appeared – as is required for the joust A nobleman, with his own horse and, at the signal A sound I never did
- David
December 13, 2012 7:42 p.m.
They told me "They got all" After carving it Neatly off my chest And frying the rest Leaving my other breast Untouched by knife or Destructive rays. Stronger than the cancer My prayers to Him -- He got it all!
- No name given
October 17, 2012 11:21 a.m.
Newly diagnosed. Hating the diagnosis, and all the decisions to be made. Most horrific to me of all about whether to have a double mastectomy. It hurts, an I hate it. But at the same time there is much beauty. I've met some of the most amazing people, and I can see that my God is using the situation for good purposes. I have a long road ahead, but I have a mighty God to walk through this valley with. (I still hate the cancer though. :-)
- Helen
October 11, 2012 5:06 p.m.
Poetry in motion. It's called LIFE. Time. A promise for the future.
- Louisa
October 11, 2012 4:04 p.m.
Music sends me into a state of peace and serenity. It also strengthens my immune system. I refuse to acknowledge the word cancer and give it the power it seeks. Jon
- Jon
October 11, 2012 3:16 p.m.
Quiet hope streams through my cautious thoughts on Life Bring me music to take me to happy, tranquil places
- Deanne
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