The Worry Catcher
Give me all of your worries
You worrier
Give me all of your
Sad songs
For I could catch them
With my butterfly net
And swish them away from
Your anxious mind.
This poem is inspired by the poem “The Dream Keepers” by Langston Hughes. I wrote it after an exchange of messages with a friend who also has cancer and was worrying about her unexpected upcoming appointment. It is very easy to catastrophise and become anxious about every little thing. A relevant term is “scanxiety” when there is a scan looming ahead.
September 2023 is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. It is also Child Cancer Awareness Month. Every day 10 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. Of those lucky enough to survive, many will have long-term side-effects that may significantly impact their lives forever.
I am posting one poem per day to recognise this and raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. This charity provides sailing and other outdoor adventures for children and young people aged 8-24 who have been treated for cancer. But it’s more than that. There’s a package of support around this including siblings, return trips, volunteering opportunities and so on. The Trust also works hard to ensure their work is environmentally sustainable. You can make a donation HERE!