Gratitude Poem

When I write the word “gratitude”

I think recovery.

I don’t think “cancer”.

I think gratitude for him

for me, for this.

Surely not this?

We are grateful or we are not.

We say Yes! and Thank you.

All around me well-meaning

friends say,

“You can say "No!"

But I say Yes

I don’t No

Who knew?

“It’s like a relationship on steroids”
I told a friend

then realized

that was no

metaphor.