Tag: chronic illness poetry

I’m Glad You Didn’t Stay

Life didn’t stop
when you left.

I made a new plan,
headed off
for a new adventure.

Planned a new life
without you.

And when things fell apart,
spun out of control,
sideswiped me
with a shocking jolt,

all I could think of
was how much I wished
you could be there.

And the emptiness
hit me
in ways I never imagined
it could.

But I did, as I always do,
what had to be done
as wave after wave
of devastation
rolled over me.

I reached out,
desperately trying
to find one steady hand

and found nothing
to steady me.

I moved on.
I took steps each day
that led nowhere
in particular.

I trudged on,
but still haven’t found
my way out.

I remember holding
your hand,
telling you I understood
it was time for you to go.

I remember telling you,
Don’t worry about me,
promising you
I’ll be fine.

In case you are watching,
I refuse to be
anything but fine,
no matter how out of control
my world is.

In so many ways,
I’m glad you aren’t here
to see my world
spin apart.

I’m so glad you left
before cancer destroyed
what I was building.

You couldn’t have borne it.
I couldn’t have watched
you try.

I am glad you left
me when you did.

How did the universe
know what lay
in store for me?

I have fought
until it broke
my soul.

I carry scars
I never believed
I could survive.

And I have memories
of you
that sometimes help.

2/3/2025

More poetry by Jan Mariet

My Mother, Myself – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life

When Your Voice Fell Silent – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life

Time to Rise Again (Poetry) – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life

Nobody’s First Choice (Poetry) – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life

Time to Rise Again (Poetry)

Time to Rise Again: A Poem About Resilience and Renewal

by Jan Mariet

We have to loosen our grip
On the things that scorch and sting,
The words that linger too long,
The hurts that weigh down our wings.

The mem’ries that bruise our hearts,
That keep us small and still,
That hold us too close to the ground,
And quiet our inner voice and will.

Maybe now it’s time
To turn the page with care,
To face the light again
And leave the anger there,

To forgive what cannot be changed,
Not for them, but for our souls’ release,
And open the door at last
To flight, and light, and peace.

12/16/2025

This image is a decorative image of the poem, Time to Rise Again by Jan Mariet. We have to loosen our gripOn the things that scorch and sting,The words that linger too long,The hurts that weigh down our wings.The mem’ries that bruise our hearts,That keep us small and still,That hold us too close to the ground,And quiet our inner voice and will.Maybe now it’s timeTo turn the page with care,To face the light againAnd leave the anger there,To forgive what cannot be changed,Not for them, but for our souls’ release,And open the door at lastTo flight, and light, and peace.12/16/2025

If you enjoy poetry, check out other poems by Jan Mariet at Poetry Archives – Jan Mariet’s A Day in the Life

If you enjoyed this poem, you might find Jan Mariet’s book, Our Resilient Hearts, to be something you would enjoy. You can find it on Amazon at Our Resilient Hearts: Thriving Beyond Chronic Illness: Mariet, Jan: 9798315554523: Amazon.com: Books . For anyone navigating chronic illness, disability, or the invisible weight of pain, this book is your companion, your mirror, and your voice. Our Resilient Hearts is more than a collection of stories—it’s a journey toward hope, healing, and hard-earned strength.