My friend Mary Miller tells me that every time I get a cancer treatment she puts me in “white light” and imagines the experimental drug as “prayer liquid.” I have received dozens and dozens of notes from people across the country telling me that are naming me in prayer on a daily basis. There is a special cadre of friends praying to Blessed Dorothy Day for a “miracle” that will advance her canonization process. My favorite prayers, though, because God hears them in a special way, are the prayers of the poor.

I’m writing this from the Hillman Cancer Center where I’m participating in another clinical drug test. The first three weeks of the test call for 24- hour monitoring once the infusion is finished. Prior to that, it’s usually four or five hours of blood work, EKGs, more blood work, anti-nausea medicine via an IV, then the hour-long infusion, followed by anti-anxiety medication. So basically, I sit here for 30+ hours—which gives me a long time to feel sorry myself.

Here is a poem for Friday, April 30, the last day of National Poetry Month. Thank you so much for participating in this celebration. I had a good time and hope you did, too.

You remain with me
old wild goose, no matter where
you roam—same autumn night.
--Issa

Do you like this poem? Why or why not? How does it make you feel?
Prompt: Copy Issa’s first line—You remain with me—and see where it leads you

You remain with me: old photograph, favorite poem, dear friend, lost love, blue heron etc.

Here is the poem for Wednesday, April 28. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

First snowfall
of cherry petals
starting to scatter—
how hateful, tramping through it
over the pass from Shiga!
--Saigyo

Here is the poem for Monday, April 26. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

Living in the mountains
I have grown old,
No longer needing much sleep—
I am always up at dawn
To greet the morning moon.
--Rengetsu

Here is the poem for Saturday, April 24. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

One caw of a crow
Tints all of the fallen leaves
A deeper yellow.
--Richard Wright

Here is the poem for Wednesday, April 21. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

Here in Shinano
are famous moons, and buddhas,
and our good noodles
--Issa

Here is the poem for Monday, April 19. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

Let me die in spring
under the blossoming trees,
let it be around
that full moon
of Kisaragi month
--Saigyo

Ooops! Sorry. Forgot to post this morning.
Here is the poem for Saturday, April 17. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

I give permission
For this slow spring rain to soak
The violet beds.
- Richard Wright

Here is the poem for Thursday, April 15. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I am posting a short poem, a question and prompt every other day during the month. Mostly they will be poems by my daily companions, the ancient Japanese and Chinese poets. I will do the prompt myself, either in prose or poetry, and invite you to join.

Dear evening swallow,
today is a burden—and
trust nothing tomorrow
--Issa