Homework W/E October 17: Old Sol

[David Campbell]

Hard to see a cheerful direction with this set of prompts, Maureen, so I've headed down a rather dark path.

Old Sol

© David Campbell, 10/10/16

Through long afternoons in the fall of our days,
immaculate in its conception,
Old Sol sheds its light on our valleys and bays,
embraced by our loving reception.

The days turn to weeks, and the months become years,
quite endless in its duplication,
most wondrous of stars and of life-giving spheres,
a beacon for this grateful nation.

But hidden within is a night that’s so dark,
a pathos without resolution,
more dangerous than any spider or shark
as cancer exacts retribution.

Inexorable sadness for many now looms,
a process of constant attrition
in starkly-lit, sterilised hospital rooms
where hope is the dream of remission.

[Shelley Hansen]

Dark indeed, David, but sadly, so true.

I really like the way you contrast the day with the night, the joy with the tears, the health with the illness. It is very effective.

Cheers
Shelley

[Maureen K Clifford]

WOW - That's an extremely effective use of the prompts David - a story acted out thousands of times across the world every day which is really heartbreaking. Sadly for many - a new day doesn't bring new hope.

[Catherine Lee]

An unexpected direction David, but a very powerful one with its truth and contrasts. Excellent poem as always.

[David Campbell]

Thank you Shelley, Maureen and Catherine. With fair skin, Scottish ancestry, and many years spent playing tennis and cricket, I'm very sensitive to the risks of skin cancer. I remember days at the beach as a kid when I got badly burnt, followed by more days of pain and peeling skin. There were no 50+ sunscreens back then (just something called SKOL), so who knows what damage was done and when it might turn nasty?

David