

Discover more from Blood Lines
You asked me if I cared about losing my hair.
I looked at you in surprise!
“After all that’s happened to me, in my life?”
I responded, as I met your eye….
I’ve been bitten by a pony, stung by wasps and a bee
Faced and chased a big rat coming at me
Slept with cockroaches in a Philadelphian bed
Fallen into nettles with stings widespread
I’ve canoed the River Spey and kayaked the Tay
Camped out in cold, minus 16 below
Lost in mountains, mist on heather
Stranded on an island, thanks to bad weather
Found a dead man on a hill
Been rescued from a cliff of my own free will
Whipped the Dragon’s Tail on a racing snow sledge
Dug out ditches
Laid a hedge
Couch surfed with ‘galactic soul savers, (somewhat unplanned)
Travelled 21000 miles to get paid 12 grand
Pub crawled with Yukon mud miners
and Majorcan fashion designers
Scrubbed many an ancient human bone
Stopped starlings roosting with a megaphone
Lost teenagers at a train station in rush hour
Jumped on the glass floor of the CN Tower
Travelled to work by skis and snowshoe
Cycled hands free without any ado
Cartwheeled at the age of 54
Telling more poor jokes than ever before
And still find them funny.
I nearly died giving birth
(A placental abruption for what it’s worth)
I’ve lost a sister to suicide
A friend murdered, others killed on a mountainside
Suffered trauma, anxiety and depression
Lived through misogynist aggression
Jumped through a burning door, to escape a fire
With panache, hopped fences topped in barbed wire
Saved my mother-in-law from choking
Using an abdominal thrust - no joking
Campaigned for peace
Nuclear disarmament
Animal rights
And the environment
In the Eighties I was vegan for 7 years
An avid martial artist, without any fears
Invited to sponsor a UFO stake out
Declined the offer as it wasn’t well thought-out
So what if I’ve hair today that’s gone tomorrow
Unlike Samson my strength doesn’t rely
On the length of my locks, don’t you see?
The absence of hair will
Never
Define
Me
This poem is written in response to being interviewed by a medical professor who presumed that I would find the worst side effect of chemotherapy being the loss of my hair, on account of my being a woman. Sadly I wasn’t able to formulate this reply on the hoof! I just stood my ground and stated I found nausea the most debilitating thing. The poem format was inspired by a friend, Antonia Pugh-Thomas who underwent a similar situation when she was criticised by a bloke for not painting a shed correctly. Her text rant was a wonderful read.
Occasionally I’m asked what I have left to do on my bucket list. My response is succinct. I’ve no bucket list and never had one. But I’ve had amazing experiences, often that have happened unexpectedly with no planning, that don’t rely on travelling, a successful career, being a GOAT (greatest of all time) or having loads of money. Why does our society define satisfaction in terms of such a limited set of criteria?
Flynne’s Barn is a place where young people living with cancer can come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings and provides a range of immersive outdoor and creative experiences. I am sharing one poem per day during September 2022 to raise money for this charity. To DONATE, visit my GO FUND ME page. Many thanks.
Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI is Northern Ireland’s is only charity dedicated to blood cancer research and definitely a website worth visiting if resident there. Lots of information, support and advice.
Hair Care
Wow! I love this poem Juliet. For the fun in its words and rhyme and for its message.
It really puts things in perspective. What a life you have lived 😃!
What a great idea also to list so many of these 'simple' but 'life affirming' experiences and remember how blessed we are inspite of our trials. I'm off to write my own 'life poem'. Thank you.
May God stengthen you every day towards your recovery. Thank you for taking time to inspire others as always. xxx
You are so right Juliet. Life is made up of so many interesting, exciting, scary, sad, tragic, mundane, fabulous experiences - especially yours it would seem!! My goodness what an adventure.
I think I like contentment best of all xx