A Poem About Dad's Treatments

Hi folks! I wrote this poem about Dad's cancer treatments back when he started his most recent trial. I didn't post it at the time, but I'm sharing it now since we know (kinda) how the trial treatment is going. - Emily

In Hamilton they sing “Helpless”

But it’s helpless with happiness

Not this frustration

This weird anticipation

When you want to be realistic

But not quite pessimistic

To plan for a future and be hopeful

But not disappointed or ungrateful

Look around, it’s been a year

We can cheer that Dad’s still here

But I want to know what time we have got

I forget I have privileges that others have not

I don’t want to sound depressing

This is my attempt at expressing

And processing for you

What I’m going through

“It is well with my soul” was my favorite song

But now when I sing, I question if it’s wrong

Is it well with my soul? Can I say that in truth?

It’s harder to sing now then it was as a youth

What I know in my head and what I feel in my heart

Those two are often worlds apart

I know that God cares and loves us a lot

But it still seems unfair, this straw that we’ve got

A lot of folks say this will be cured one day

Maybe soon, as many hope and pray

But for now, it is not, and we pay the price

As Dad rolls experimental treatment dice