I have stage 4 cancer . . .
. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but today I kissed and hugged my wife good morning
And went through my morning rituals of reflection and insight
And drank rich coffee and ate fried eggs and buttered toast

. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but today I took a long hot shower luxuriating in the warmth
And copyedited a Wikipedia page on a Paraguayan soccer coach
And wrote an essay for my Coursera memoir writing course

. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but today I ate a bowl of cream of potato soup and savored every bite
And went to the coffee shop for a latte and some reading time
And bought a 200-count bottle of multivitamins

. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but today I went to the library to sit and read a bit, and find a new novel
And drive past The Fly just to see how high the River is
And then came home and took a nap

. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and I got mine
And I think of how comforting it is to know that “to dust I shall return”
And the sun has yet to go down on this day, or me

. . . and I was supposed to be dead a year ago . . .
. . . but I am alive and grateful for this day