but for now

i’m em
barrassed to learn
i have cancer

as though it were a
revelation of dark
fate or

caused by some such
compromising situation as
eating food with dirty
hands or

filthy water in the
mouth from a bangkok
klong.

then there is
work...
who should i

tell & how will they
look at me
then?

& fear of
death, of course, &
suffering...

bringing pain &
confusion into the
hearts of those I
care for.

but for now,
i’m rushing home to
watch the setting
sun with you, my love.

thank God, we know
the sun is always
rising.