A Light Summer Dying

A Light Summer Dying by Rogan Wolf

A Light Summer Dying is a long poem that tells the story of a woman dying of cancer. It was written over 20 years ago and the woman concerned, a near neighbour of mine, had asked me to write it as a record for her family.

She had two very young sons. One was not even speaking yet. Knowing she was shortly to die, she wanted the poem to be there for her sons when they were older. She wanted them to meet her in the words. Maybe the words would touch them for her.

Later, the woman’s widower and I agreed that the poem could also be shared more widely.

We were confident that she would have liked that. Accordingly, it has been read to social work students, some Macmillan student nurses, and to hospice staff. It has been well received.

In no sense is the poem written to be a ‘work of art’. It is a plain, spare record of events, I hope sensitive, I know careful. Its structure is very much shaped by those events, rather than by any ‘artistic’ considerations. A whole community lived this woman’s last months with her. I think the poem reflects that, or at least bears witness to it.

I am grateful to the Centre for the Art of Dying Well for wanting to give some air to this poem on its website. I am sure the poem’s subject would have liked that too. She has much to teach.

Excerpt from A Light Summer Dying

‘…they lived it
delicately yet firmly there,
dignified and passionate
refusing at all times

to approach this thing as nightmare
but making it

almost a time of grace,
meeting its features

as these came forth,
always full in the face,
transcendent
through being somehow

lovingly down to earth…

Read the whole poem via the link below

Read a A Light Summer Dying

More about Rogan Wolf

Rogan Wolf earned his living as a mental health social worker. He runs a project called Poems for the wall, and lives near Gloucester.