So Much More To …

[Sherry]

I'm sorry I've been away from the Forum and this section in particular for such a long time.
In fact, I may have been away so long that there are many new people here. If so, I will be
happy to meet them and say hello as well to those with whom I have not communicated for awhile.

So Much More To …

I have so much more to learn
languages to perfect
music to listen to, dance to, play;
recipes to read, tastes to try
new dishes to offer loved ones
known or not yet met

my future still holds infinite
numbers of hugs, kisses, smiles, caresses
and other gestures that shall remain
as unnamed as they are intimate

grandchildren waiting to be born
who need my take on the world
lest they wish to pass it on
to the next generation

things to say that have been left
unsaid so long that the air may strain
from wonder when the hibernating
words finally emerge

So many places still unexplored;

I will see a Caribbean Island with
my own eyes; feel the sun on my
healing body as I laze in the protective
shadow of a lush palm tree
sipping the elixir of life and laughing
with satisfaction as I watch my loved ones
bathe once more in salted surf

I did not give license to the treacherous
invaders attempting to take over my body
I will, however, not be taken prisoner
willingly nor easily; I’ve never been easy
I know where my ground is and
I know how to stand it.

Sherry L. Smith
February, 2008

[Steven]

Hi Sherry,

Isn't it wonderful to anticipate all the life-full experiences that you've listed?

And the resolve (Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down" played in my mind) of the last
paragraph... well, I admire that. I know of absolutely tremendous synergy that
anticipation, resolve and applied hypnosis (along with medical care) can bring about
to deal with medical conditions. If the "invaders" indicate something medical,
you may want to look into working with a clinical hypnotist to assist you in
marshalling your resources along with your physician's care.

[Sherry]

Hi Steven,

The "invaders" are indeed medical. Luckily, I have an excellent medical team looking after me. I have
been advised several times to try using visualization and I have done so to a certain extent, but have
not heard about using hypnotism. I wonder if the methods or effects are very similar.

I hope you like my poem. It's only the second one I've been able to write in recent months. I think it is
because my head has become more clear after being taken off a particular drug.

Thanks for commenting.

Sherry

[Alan Alda]

Hi Sherry~

Great poem.
You sound like a warrior.

google for the poem:
Invictus
by: William Ernest Henley
(or maybe you already know it)

I think you'll like it.

Best of luck,

Laurie

[Steven]

Hi Sherry,

Visualization is used by hypnotists, along with other things. I'm glad that you
have an excellent medical team. Perhaps you may want to ask them if they
know of a hypnotherapist that has experience with their patients in tailoring
visualization, suggestions, etc. to particular life situations and circumstances.
I do like your poem. My best wishes to you.

[Sherry]

Hi,

Laurie thank you for your suggestion on finding Invictusl. It's so difficult sometimes to muster up
that level of what I like to think of as protective aggression, but so necessary. I was familiar with the
last two lines but not the enitre poem. Thanks again.

Steven, your suggestions are interesting and worth considering. I shall try to follow them up.

Best to all,
Sherry

[lizzytysh]

I'm bringing this poem to the top for two reasons... in remembrance of Sherry and her courageous, final days... and to say now what I wish I had said, then... on the Forum.

As life sometimes does with us, I got so busy with other things that I didn't get posted here the response that I gave to Sherry privately, when she sent me her poem in a PM before posting it here. So, now, feeling badly about not having done it when it mattered most, I'll copy it to here. At least I got to say it privately; yet along with that, I would have much preferred saying it publicly, as well. We had a very supportive kind of friendship.

Re: Tour and new poem
Sent at: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:57 am
From: lizzytysh
To: Sherry

Dear Sherry ~

It's so good to hear from you! Twice recently [past two weeks] I've considered writing you and then thought I'd wait awhile longer. I've not been feeling well... fighting a long-standing cold/flu/something. Yesterday afternoon, there was an internal shift where I began to feel like 'myself,' again. It's always such a noticeable difference. I'm glad you've been through one operation and are feeling okay. Your next one isn't far off. One day after my birthday, in fact.

Well, Sherry, it's impossible for me to read your poem without being very moved by its poignancy. It's simply stated, honest, and deeply appreciative of the reality of all that life has to offer, and of which you become so acutely aware when you fear for your life. I can't see anything that I would change; yet, I'm also not one to try reorganizing other people's writing. Someone else may do that. . . . I'm very glad that you're feeling well enough to write it. Reading it brings my own awareness of how much I have left to experience in life, too. I felt very easy and calm as I read it, though, as your determination and confidence really shine through.

This has so much of the vibrancy of a full and healthy life:

I have so much more to learn
languages to perfect
music to listen to, dance to, play;
recipes to read, tastes to try
new dishes to offer loved ones
known and not yet met

This gives the impression that you may have a lover : [This was something I knew better than; but Sherry and I also had a teasing friendship, so it fit in this context.]

my future still holds infinite
numbers of hugs, kisses, smiles, caresses
and other gestures that shall remain
as unnamed as they are intimate

This is beautiful and so true... the cycle of life:

grandchildren waiting to be born
who need my take on the world
lest they wish to pass it on
to the next generation

This really gives a strong sense of how those words might as well have to break through concrete to reach the air, the awkward difficulty of their path:

things to say that have been left
unsaid so long that the air may strain
from wonder when the hibernating
words finally emerge

This is a delicious, lush, and healing visual. It shows the deep love you feel for your family and how it will feel for you just watching them. The light just shines and dances everywhere in it. I can feel the sun and the warmth and see the blue water and sky. You've written all of this very descriptively. Beautifully.

So many places still unexplored;

I will see a Caribbean Island with
my own eyes; feel the sun on my
healing body as I laze in the protective
shadow of a lush palm tree
sipping the elixir of life and laughing
with satisfaction as I watch my loved ones
bathe once more in salted surf

This is so strong, giving such a graphic depiction of the battle you're waging:

I did not give license to the treacherous
invaders attempting to take over my body
I will, however, not be taken prisoner
willingly nor easily; I’ve never been easy
I know where my ground is and
I know how to stand it.

Are you also visualizing healing, white and golden light? Destroying the invaders and then replacing them with a flood of healing light?

Thanks so much for writing me, Sherry. I'm so relieved to hear that you're doing better.

I'm praying for you, Sherry, and send you tons of healing light.


Love,
Lizzy

My love to you, Sherry... and to your family, who goes on without you.


Love,
Lizzy

[Cate]

Hi Lizzy,

Thank you for bringing this up to the top - It was a beautiful poem. My condolences to those who knew and will surely miss Sherry.

[lizzytysh]

You're very welcome, Cate. I'm bringing it to the top, again, in hopes that more people here will read it. Thanks for being one of those who did and for expressing your appreciation.


~ Lizzy

[Sophia]

And I'm bringing it to the top once again - it's been a year already.

Sophia

[lizzytysh]

Thank you so much for doing this, Sophia. Your thoughtfulness is disarming. I just [yesterday] sent Sherry's last PM to me to myself in an email, for preservation. She was such a kind and lovely woman. It shows in all the poetry she wrote. I'm so glad she got to Hydra. It meant so much to her to be able to experience it.


~ Lizzy