Cancer Ridden

The day he left he said no goodbye,
He bid no farewell.
Wracked with pain, diseased with cancer,
Borne with sores, emaciated, long, weary
Waiting to die;
But never a sigh nor tear did he cry.
Never feeling disgusted.
When pains grew worse,
Never a hateful word or glare
Nor try to ask God why,
Only a smile and a nod when he could speak no more.

When pains had him writhing in anguish deep
An you felt he'd reach his human end,
You felt he'd give up and curse the very day he birthed.
You bear his hurt and see his brow tarnished with pain,
You know he's dying a death of deep despair
Though you see his face so serene.

In silence he bears it all;
He knows that his time is near...
His time of tranquil rest.
He makes it right with God without a fight.
The scent of his sore when it ran in the night,
Is like dead man's flesh
You turn your head in shame and your nose in deep disgust..
Why should a soul, this fallen warrior so humble,
So peaceful, so useful and skillful, so kind,
Have to depart this life this painful way;
Have to be so devastated, weak - yet so calm,
Understanding, sweet.

Then when he left he seemed so still,
So lifeless, so peaceful, so restive.
He left this life without saying goodbye
For he knows he is only gone to be with God.