J Cats vignette

: It probably comes as no surprise to you that I can relate to Dr. Seuss’s humor. My boys and I always loved his books. When the boys were little, I had numerous books memorized. My poem is a tribute to his classic works.

J. CATS IN HER HATS

My boy looked and he saw me in a spiked wig.
Later I wore antlers and the nose of a pig.
A turkey head, a conehead, well that’s something new.
A Viking hat, A Bug’s Life, and a Teletubby I’ll do.

When he saw me leaving the house in each hat,
My boy, he said, "Why do you step out there like that?
I know you are sick, and chemo is bad,
But you’re looking so weird, and that’s really sad."

I answered him plainly, as best as I could
As I stood there wearing my Arabian hood.
"I know it is strange. Don’t you worry my son,
I’m making those horrible treatment trips fun.

"I have these two growths, Growth Two and Growth One.
It’s cancer, you see, and can’t be outrun.
I’ve had surgery, I’m sick, and I’m tired, that’s true,
But I won’t let it turn my attitude blue.

"My thoughts and reactions I can control.
I will not descend in a negative hole.
Cancer has hurt me, but I’ll laugh my way through.
I won’t let it destroy my happiness too.

"I’ll laugh and be silly, up through the end.
This dreadful disease I will transcend.
And when I am cured, you’ll look back and you’ll see,
My hats and my wigs were a diversion for me."