[HANASHIR:13217] Courage: New song lyrics.

[Ros Schwartz <ros_schwartz...>]

This song wrote itself when I woke up this morning.  I had been meaning to 
write a 
song, but couldn't settle on a topic;  and this topic is not one that I had 
consciously 
considered writing.  But obviously it was there to be written.

It's not overtly a Jewish song, but the themes of courage and healing are 
essential 
Jewish themes.  And ... you are my friends, and I wanted to share this with you.

I feel I should include a disclaimer ... if you have been touched by breast 
cancer, in 
one way or another, this song may resonate.  Its themes are positive, but it 
also may 
cause pain.  So you may not wish to read it, if you are not in the right frame 
of mind. 

This song is not literally about me.  I have not had breast cancer myself, 
though my 
mother died from it, and so many dear women that I know have suffered from it.  
But in 
my work, I spend much time listening to the intimate details of the experiences 
of 
people with many kinds of challenges to their spirit.  For myself, singing was 
integral to 
a healing of emotional rather than physical wounds.

If this song has meaning for you, please write me at ros_schwartz (at) 
yahoo(dot)ca, I 
appreciate knowing.

- Ros



Courage


© Ros Schwartz - December 2002


Courage is not the absence of fear, but the taking of action despite fear.



Half awake she stretched herself, her hand went to her chest
where just a week ago there used to be another breast 
but in its place was empty space, just skin beneath her hand 
and a change in her self-image that she did not understand

The doctors said it had to go, there was no other way
to have a chance that she could dance at her child's next birthday
the cancer an aggressive one and she so very young
so many stories left to write, so many songs unsung

So she said yes, they booked a date, though fear was in her heart
for this was just the first of many treatments that would start
her friends told tales of courage, but fear was all that she could see
for even with an absent breast life gave no guarantee

What life may bring, we do not choose;  how we act is our choice
and part of healing is to speak, to give our pain a voice
for courage is not lack of fear, but singing out despite
and living's more than dodging death, it's singing through the night.

A fine scar on her gentle skin ... a wound within her soul
she hadn't planned to think of death til she was very old
but as she rose to dress herself and face another day
she thought that she would start to sing and heal herself this way

Now quite awake she stretched herself, her hand went to her chest
where in another life, there used to be another breast 
now in its place was empty space, just skin beneath her hand 
and a change in her self-image she did not yet understand.

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+