after the biopsy

inner peace and joy
my goal so elusive
a moment captured here or there
through nature or music

chanting in the shower or car
I feel calm and grateful
for this life
for this moment
for not having cancer

birds and chipmunks chattering
almost spring
hiking in Hooksett we find
the trail still frozen in places
muddy in others
ice starting to melt in the marshes
water running in small falls
a beautiful sound
energetic but calming
at the same time

I take digital photos and put one
on my computer as background
the frozen pond with multi-colored ice
brown wispy grass
beautiful granite boulders
and tall pine trees
God as artist in all seasons
another small moment of joy
revealed on a computer screen


copyright 2004 Linda H. Feinberg

The winter photo above was taken at Dube's Pond, Hooksett, New Hampshire. I recently sold about 20 cards with this scene.

While this poem was written four years ago, last week I had a breast biopsy again. This lump turned out to be fibro adenoma (a benign tumor). That's why I thought about this old poem.

We had a wonderful weekend retreat on Cape Code with a havurah. Lots of singing, workshops, prayers, ruach (Hebrew word for spirit. The English does not express it as well.) The snow was too deep to walk on the beach, but we walked down and enjoyed watching the seagulls and the water.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas to all our readers. May you be blessed with a happy, healthy and joyous new year. Light a candle, say a prayer, and dispel the darkness...