Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, "My Shadow" reminds this cancer survivor about her diagnosis.
PUBLISHED July 05, 2018
Jane has earned three advanced degrees and had several fulfilling careers as a librarian, rehabilitation counselor and college teacher. Presently she does freelance writing. Her articles include the subjects of hearing loss and deafness, service dogs and struggling with cancer. She has been a cancer survivor since 2010.
She has myelodysplastic syndrome, which is rare, and would love to communicate with others who have MDS.
As a child, I loved the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson titled “My Shadow.” I have often remarked to others that the “shadow” of cancer is ever present and hovering over me. No matter how healthy I feel, I know that my disease is incurable and always lurking in the background – like a shadow does!She has myelodysplastic syndrome, which is rare, and would love to communicate with others who have MDS.
Recently I looked up this supposedly child’s poem, and it was striking how effectively the word “shadow” and “cancer” could be substituted for each other. I would like to share a line or two.
“I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me.
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see…
For he sometimes shoots up taller than an Indian rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there’s none of him at all.”
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