LYMPHOMANIA
THE MUSICAL
BY
FRANK A VOLLMER
BEING A REFLECTION
ON HIS CANCER
AND SUBSEQUENT ILL
HEALTH
AUTUMN NOW
ON LEARNING HE HAD
LYMPHOMA
I AM MORE IN TUNE
WITH AUTUMN NOW
I HAVE FELT WINTER'S
FIRST CHILL
AND COULD NOT GET
WARM
BUT I AM MORE IN TUNE
WITH AUTUMN NOW
I HAVE WONDERED AT
THE MARVEL OF THE LEAVES
AT THE BEAUTY OF
THEIR PASSING
AND THEIR RELUCTANCE
TO LET GO
RELUCTANT TO LEAVE
THOSE THEY CARE ABOUT
BECAUSE I LOVE
AND AM LOVED
THEREBY SHARING IN
THE DIVINITY
AND IN FACING THE
DIVINITY
KNOW
THAT NOT EVERY DAY
WAS PERFECT
EVERY DAY
WEEK
MONTH
YEAR
EVERY PAGE
CHAPTER
BOOK
EVERY I NOT DOTTED
EVERY T NOT CROSSED
AND WHEN DONE
NOT DONE WELL
WINTER THOUGHTS
WINTER THOUGHTS
BUT I AM IN TUNE WITH
AUTUMN NOW
I ASK THE PAST FOR
FORGIVENESS
TO LET ME LAY MY
BURDEN DOWN
KNOWING THAT
FORGIVENESS
IS ALSO REQUIRED OF
ME
IF I WOULD LAY MY
BURDEN DOWN
BUT THE DAYS OF
AUTUMN ARE NOT OVER
OH THAT I COULD MAKE
MY AUTUMN BEAUTIFUL
TO CLING TENACIOUSLY
TO THE TREE
NEITHER WILLING
DEPARTURE
IN MIND OR BODY
OR THE LEAVING OF
LOVED ONES
UNTIL CALLED BY THAT
GREAT SUMMONS
TO BEGIN
THAT PEACEFUL
NOSTALGIC
ACCEPTING
JOURNEY HOME
BUT
AS FOR NOW
I AM MORE IN TUNE
WITH AUTUMN NOW
AND THERE IS SERENITY
IN MY SOUL
THAT WORD
WHEN THE DOCTOR FIRST
SAID THAT WORD
IT WAS AS IF THE
WORLD HAD STOPPED
A CLICHÉ MOST TIMES
EXCEPT WHEN IT
HAPPENS TO YOU
BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS
TO YOU
ALL AROUND YOU
EVERYONE ELSE
WAS GOING ON
WITH THEIR JOURNEYS
ONE OF WHICH WAS THE
DOCTOR'S TASK
OF TELLING ME
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH
ME
AND AS HE SPOKE
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
WAS GIVEN TO MY
JOURNEY
NO TRAVELING
IT WOULD BE
INAPPROPRIATE
AT THIS TIME
WE NEED THE FOLLOWING
TESTS
DONE IMMEDIATELY
TILL A WEEK OF TESTS
HAD GONE BY
WHICH WHEN READ
REQUIRED MORE TESTS
A BIOPSY
AND A SHUNT INSTALLED
IT'S ALL DONE NOW
AND I SIT NOW
AS IF BEFORE A MAGIC
CUP
CHALICE
GRAIL
A MAGIC CUP OF
HEALING POISON
IT REMINDS ME OF
GRACE
DESTROYING SIN
BUT NOT THE SINNER
DESTROYING A PART OF
ME
TO LEAVE ME WHOLE
THIS IS NOT THE CUP
THAT I WOULD CHOOSE
TO DRINK
IF I COULD
I WOULD SAY
FATHER TAKE THIS CUP
BUT THIS CUP IS A
NECESSARY ONE
THAT I MUST DRINK
I FEEL LIKE PETER
WHEN JESUS SAID
SOMEONE ELSE WILL
DRESS
AND LEAD YOU
SHELTER ME AS I DRINK
THIS POTION
SURELY YOUR GOODNESS
AND KINDNESS
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WITH
ME
AND I REST IN THE
PALM OF YOUR HAND
LIKE BABY BIRD
BEING FED BY ITS
MOTHER
THE NAMING OF
PILLS
TODAY WE HAD THE
NAMING OF PILLS
BUT FIRST WE HAD THE
DISMISSAL OF PILLS
THE MULTI VITAMIN AND
THE E
GONE
AS IF IN DISGRACE
THEY HAD NOT
PREVENTED THE CONDITION
A BIT OF WHIMSY THERE
ACTUALLY THE WERE NOT
COMPATIBLE
WITH THE NEW
ONE TO KEEP THE BLOOD
FLOWING
ONE FOR NAUSEA
IF I NEED IT
ONE TO KEEP MY SYSTEM
HEALTHY
ONE TO ATTACK THE
TUMOR
BUT THIS ONE WE
NUMBER AMONG THE PILLS
THE PILLS ARE LOWLY
SERVANTS
INFERIOR TO THE
INFUSIONS
WHICH HAVE A BETTER
PRESS
BUT ALL IN ALL A
TOXIC COCKTAIL
BOTTOMS UP
AND HAIR LOSS TOO
HOW COULD I BE SO
LUCKY
THE JOURNEY STARTS
A HESITANT STEP
THE DRINKS ARE SERVED
TO YOUR HEALTH GOOD
SIR
I'LL DRINK TO THAT
THE
BEST SEEMS TO BE
TAKE
IT AND MAKE IT WORK
TO
TRY TO BE AT PEACE
SO
I AM DOWN
AMONG
THE STONES
AMONG
THE ROCKS
QUIET
AND PEACEFUL IN THIS PLACE
BETWEEN
THE TIDES
BETWEEN
INFUSIONS
I
AM OPEN
TO
THE WHISPERINGS OF THE SPIRIT
WHICH
STRANGELY SOUND
LIKE
THE SIBILANT SOUNDS OF THE SEA
AND
ON THE HILLTOP
YOU
DESTROYED THE CANCER OF…
THERE
I'VE SAID THE WORD
YOU
DESTROYED THE CANCER OF MY SIN
YOU
SET ME FREE
TO
LIVE A HOLY AND A WHOLLY LIFE
AND
ON MY HILLTOP
LET
ME SAY WITH YOU
FATHER
IT IS FINISHED
CURED
OR AT LEAST IN REMISSION
AND WE SHALL WALK
OUR
EASTER MORNINGS
SIDE
BY SIDE
FRIENDS
AS ALWAYS
WE
HAVE WALKED
THROUGH
THE DARK PORTAL
AND
FOUND SUN SHINE
BUT
FIRST
WHEN
PILATE SAID THE C WORD TO YOU JESUS
DID
YOU STEP BACK
BLINK
PRAY
FOR COURAGE
DID
THE WORLD GO AWAY FOR AN INSTANT
SAYING
YES LORD JESUS
ENDEARS
YOU TO MY HEART
BECAUSE
SO DID I
DRUID ROCKS - THE
TREATMENT ROOM
WE WERE SITTING ROUND
THE WALLS
LIKE DRUID ROCKS
WAITING FOR THE
SOLSTICE
ONE CHAIR MISSING
THROUGH WHICH THE
PRIESTESS CAME
DISPENSING THE MAGIC
FLUID
THE EYE OF THE NEWT
THE TAIL OF A DRAGON
THE HEALING POISON
AND WE SIT IN A RING
AROUND THE ROOM
LIKE DRUID ROCKS
WAITING FOR THE SOLSTICE
LIKE DRUIDS SITTING
IN A RING
PRAYING TO THE GODS
THAT THE DAYLIGHT
WOULD STAY
OR THAT THE DAYLIGHT
WOULD COME BACK
DRUIDS SITTING IN A
RING
TRYING TO PLACATE AN
ANGRY GOD
DRUIDS SITTING IN A
RING
WHILE THE PRIESTESS
CHECKS OUR PULSE
OUR BLOOD PRESSURE
AND OUR TEMPERATURE
WHETHER WE ARE
THIRSTY
OR ANY OTHER NEED
DRUIDS SITTING IN A
RING
I AM PART OF THAT
RING
BUT MY GOD IS NOT
ANGRY
WHERE TWO OR THREE…
FOR WE ARE GATHERED
IN HIS NAME
EVEN THOUGH SOME OF
US MAY NOT KNOW IT
DRUIDS SITTING IN A
RING
LOOKING PAST THE
WITCH'S BREW
KNOWING THAT NO
MATTER HOW DARK THE DAY
THE SUN IS SHINING
AND WILL NOT GO AWAY
GOOD MORNING BROTHER ASS
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
GOOD MORNING BROTHER
ASS
HOW ARE YOU THIS
MORNING
BROTHER MULE IF YOU
DON'T MIND
AH WE'RE INTO
PROPRIETY TODAY ARE WE
ONLY FITTING
AFTER THE INDIGNITIES
YOU PUT ME THROUGH
I'M ONLY DOING WHAT'S
BEST FOR YOU
AND ME
WELL ANYWAY
I'D RATHER BE KNOWN
AS BROTHER MULE TODAY
TODAY AND EVERYDAY IF
YOU SO DESIRE
OH DON'T BE SO
POMPOUS
SOMETIMES YOU ACT
LIKE AN ASS
BROTHER ASS IF YOU
DON'T MIND
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A
CONVERSATION
RUNNING AROUND IN A CIRCLE
SHALL WE BEGIN AGAIN
GOOD MORNING BROTHER
MULE
GOOD MORNING BROTHER
SOUL
SHALL WE BEGIN BY
TAKING OUR PILLS
AS A SIGN OF PROMISE
FOR THE DAY
YOU SEEM DOWN BROTHER
MULE
I HAVE A QUESTION
ASK AWAY
YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME
WILLY-NILLY
AS IF YOU DIDN'T CARE
YOU HAVE MY WORD
WE WILL NOT PART BY
CHOICE
SHALL WE BEGIN OUR
DAY
HOSPITAL GOWN
MY FRONT BEING
PROPERLY HIDDEN
I SHALL NOT MENTION
IT
BUT IN THE REAR
MY DERRIERE
PROVOKES LAUGHTER
AND AMUSEMENT
I DO NOT SHARE
MODESTY IS OUT THE
WINDOW
ALAS ALACK ALAY
ANY ONE HAVE A SAFETY
PIN
IT WOULD REALLY SAVE
THE DAY
HOLDING CANE
AND CATHETER
I DO NOT HAVE A HAND
TO HIDE
MY
(FOR OTHERS)
AMUSING BUTT
AND SO I STAND A
GAPING
FOR ALL THE WORLD TOO
SEE
BUT SEE NO ONE’S
LOOKING
AT MY
HEINIE
OR ME
MISTY LAND
IN THIS MISTY LAND IN
WHICH I DWELL
PRODUCT OF FATIGUE
AND CHEMICALS
THE CAROLS COME
THE CAROLS GO
ECHOES NOT QUITE
RIGHTLY HEARD
EXCEPT THE ONES
THAT TALK OF SIMPLER
THINGS
A MAN
A WOMAN
AND A BABY
WORKING AGAINST THE
ODDS
WITH HELP FROM GOOD
HEARTED PEOPLE
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
REDUCED
TO A WOMAN
HOLDING HER BABY
USING HER BODY TO
KEEP IT WARM
WHILE THE HUSBAND
TENDS THE FIRE
AND FEEDS HIS WIFE
THEIR MEAGER MEAL
BUT IN THE JOY OF THE
BABY
THEY KNOW NO
PRIVATION
I WANTED TO SAY
THAT MARY'S HANDLING
OF THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE
WHAT YOU WANT OF ME
GOD
DO
WHAT IS WITHIN ME
MAY IT BEAR FRUIT
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY
IS THAT
MY OWN ACCEPTANCE IS
SIMILAR
BUT IT IS TOO BIG A
STRETCH
INSTEAD I WANT TO SAY
YES TO GOD
NOT AS A SLAVE
BUT AS A LOVED ONE
YES TO GOD
THAT I WILL
DILIGENTLY FOLLOW
WHERE I AM LED
AND WILLINGLY ACCEPT
THE OUTCOME
SO FROM THIS MISTY
LAND
WHERE NOW I DWELL
WHERE I FEEL LIKE THE
BABY
WARMED BY ALL THE
LOVE AROUND ME
WHILE I WAIT FOR THE
MIST TO CLEAR
I WISH YOU ALL OF YOU
THAT ARE HOLDING ME
CLOSE TO YOUR HEART
I WISH FOR YOU
THE BABY'S BLESSINGS
AND ASK
THAT HIS TINY HANDS
BEGRIME YOUR SOUL
WITH MARKS OF LOVE
PEACE
JOY AND UNDERSTANDING
WHO.....
WHERE
HAVE I BEEN
WHERE
HAVE I BEEN WANDERING
IN
THE DESERT
IN
THE WARRENS
WHERE
WORDS DO NOT MAKE SENSE
AND
SENTENCES DO NOT CONNECT
BUT
WHO HAS PRAYED FOR ME
WHEN
I WAS ELSEWHERE
AND
KNOW THE ANSWER IN THE QUESTION
BANDS
OF ANGELS HOVERING
ALL
THE SAINTS ARE GATHERED
BEHOLD
WHO YOU ARE
THE
BODY OF CHRIST
NOT
GUARANTEED SAFE JOURNEY
BIT
JOINED WITH THAT GREAT COMPANY
GUARANTEED
SAFE DELIVERY
WE
ARE STILL IN TREATMENT
THE
DOCTOR CLINGS TO ME
LIKE
A LOVER HE WILL NOT LET GO
NEW
TREATMENTS ARE TO FOLLOW
A
LOW POINT THERE
I
THOUGHT I WAS DONE
TILL
I WAS TOLD
REST
AWHILE
THEN
WE START AGAIN
DOWN
A DIFFERENT PATH
DOWN
WHICH I WILL GO
JOYFULLY
BURDENED
BY
ALL WHO HOLD ME IN THEIR HEART
AND
PRAYER
WHO
PRAYS FOR YOU
WHEN
YOU CANNOT PRAY
GOD
DOES
AND
ALL HIS FRIENDS
BEHOLD
WHO YOU ARE
THE
BODY OF CHRIST
AND
ALL THE ASSEMBLY SINGS
HOLY
HOLY
HOLY
A
SOUND THAT RESONATES
WHEN
ALL OTHER SOUNDS HAVE FADED
PS 121/TAPS/ NIGHT
PRAYER
ALL IS WELL
SAFELY REST
GOD IS NIGH
HE DOES NOT SLEEP OR SLUMBER
WATCHING ALL THE NIGHT
HE IS MY GUIDE AND PATHFINDER
MY FOOT SHALL NOT SLIP
THE BREEZE COMES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
COOLING THE VALLEY AND DESERT BELOW
HE GUARDS ME FROM THE NIGHT DEMONS
AND THE EFFECTS OF THE MOON
HE NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS
HE WATCHES OVER ME
MY GOING IN AND GOING OUT
HE IS MY SHADE IN THE SUN
AND MY SHAWL FOR THE NIGHT CHILL
HE NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS
ALL IS WELL
SAFELY REST
GOD IS NIGH
AND NEVER SLEEPS
WERE THERE NOT
TEN HEALED…
FORGIVE ME LORD
I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF
POOR THINKING
WHEN I RECOVERED
AT LEAST TO EXTENT
I CAN RECOVER
DID I SAY THANK YOU
I WISH I COULD SAY
YES
BUT LIKE A MAN
WHOSE VACATION
IS MARRED BY RAIN
AND FEELS HIS
VACATION RUINED
FORGETS THE BEAUTIFUL
DAYS HE DID HAVE
THEY MIGHT AS WELL
NOT HAVE EXISTED
SO I THANK YOU LORD
FOR LIMITED RECOVERY
AND NO MIRACLES
EXCEPT THE DAILY
BEAUTY OF EACH DAY
FORGIVE ME LORD
I HAVE NOT BEEN A
GOOD SERVANT
BUT UNGRATEFUL
AND MAY BE AGAIN
BUT FOR NOW
THANK YOU LORD
WERE THERE NOT TEN
HEALED…
ABC……
THE
PROBLEM IS
THAT
WHEN THE MEDICINE
IS
WORKING
IT
CLOUDS THE MIND
AND
PRAYING BECOMES DIFFICULT
AND
SOMETIMES INCOHERENT
THE
LEGEND IS
THAT
THE JEWISH SHEPHERD
COMING
HOME FROM THE HILLS
TO
SPEND SABBATH WITH HIS FAMILY
COUNTED
HIS SHEEP AND FOUND ONE MISSING
SENDING
HIS SON AHEAD WITH THE FLOCK
HE
RETURNED TO THE HILL
RACING
THE STAR
THAT
TOLD THE BEGINNING OF SABBATH
HE
FOUND THE SHEEP
AND
LOST THE RACE
AND
TRUE TO HIS FAITH
SPENT
SABBATH ON THE HILLSIDE
WITH
HIS SHEEP
ON
COMING HOME
HIS
WIFE ASKED
HOW
ARE YOU HUSBAND
WELL
HE SAID
IT
WAS AN INTERESTING
DISQUIETING
TIME
HOW
SHE SAID
I
WAS ANXIOUS TO FIND MY SHEEP
I
WAS HURRYING AND SWEATING
THEN
THE SWEAT WENT COLD
AND
THE SHEEP AND I HUDDLED BY THE FIRE
NEVER
SEEMING TO GET WARM
I
SAW IN THE FLAME
YOUR
BEAUTIFUL SABBATH MEAL
I
WANTED TO BE HOME SO MUCH
IN
THE WARMTH OF MY HOME AND FAMILY
I
WANTED TO PRAY
BUT
THE WORDS SPILLED OUT
IN
AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE KALEIDOSCOPE
OF
FEELING
OF
WANTING
OF
DISAPPOINTMENT
SO
WHAT DID YOU DO MY HUSBAND
I
SAID THE ALPHABET
FIGURING
GOD COULD MAKE THE WORDS
THE
PROBLEM IS
THE
MEDICINE MAKES THE MIND GROW DIM
A
B
C
D……
AMEN
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