Year 1:

It’s leukemia.

Chemo, arsenic, blood work.

This is my life now.

Year 2:

Doc said it. It’s gone!

I beat what should have killed me.

I can live my life.

Year 3:

It lingers inside.

Thoughts that it might reappear

Stronger and vengeful.

Year 4:

It didn’t come back.

It won’t. Because it knows me.

I will win again.

Year 5:

It’s Leukemia.

Acute, promyelocytic

but it didn’t win.