The Centre of a Heart.
by Marjorie in 2008 when I was a volunteer at a patient run cancer centre in Yiewsley West London and helping women with breast cancer.
I came with heart that was heavy
And head that was about to burst
Yes, burst with all the thoughts and worries.
Twisting, turning, churning round and round inside.
My tiredness too much to bear
No life with family I could share.
I felt alone, trapped within this other person I had become.
Who was self? Where was I? Could I find the hidden me?
My life had been shattered,
With all that I had to bear.
Broken, yes, broken with the weight of it all
………..upon my very being.
The dreaded word had been cancer
The treatment, to take a part of me away.
The part that was designed to nurture,
To give me my female form,
To attract my mate
To suckle my child
But it was gone – yes gone
Only a scar to remind me that it was there….
Once upon a time!
A time now behind me, …a time now past,
A past that was to gnaw within me,
……tear at me with its claws of grief.
I staggered into the place that was shining
A place where I was understood,
A place that listened to me
A place that put its arms around me
A place that could teach me, teach me to find my inner self.
A place that could heal my broken heart and self.
That place where? Why our centre.
The centre of a heart that beats with love
That beats with compassion – for all that need to be heard
That beats with all that helps find my inner soul.
Yes my inner soul,
A place that can never be broken
………and will for all time, always be whole.
I had been networking with another centre in Mount Vernon and it was like a parallel of events as each centre was counselling someone in emotional pain from their journey. So this poem came about.
Making Sense of it all!
Listening ears to help those in need
Make sense of it all.
Confusion of thoughts,
Confusion of feelings,
Confusion of emotions
Making sense of it all!
An Oasis of peace to be able to escape and
Make sense of it all.
New words, new terms
– another language to learn.
What does it all mean?
Making sense of it all!
Leaflets, books and cups of tea,
Most of all helpers with care & compassion to
Make sense of it all.
Calming the fear, catching the stray tear,
Making sense of it all.
Strength to a journey, whose pathway makes weak,
Making sense of it all.
And when you leave
Hugs & embraces complete
YOU can stand tall
As you have made sense of it all!
(With love to those on their journey from Marjorie.)
Thank you to all the centres in the world that give support.
