Ros Schwartz

Lyrics

Courage is not the absence of fear, but taking fear by the hand and walking forward together.Half awake she stretched herself, her hand went to her chestwhere just a week ago there used to be another breastbut in its place was empty space, just skin beneath her handand a change in her self-image that she did not understand.The doctors said it had to go, there was no other wayto have a chance to laugh and dance at her daughter’s next birthdaythe cancer an aggressive one and she so very youngso many stories left to write, so many songs unsung.So she said yes, they booked a date, though fear was in her heartfor this was just the first of many treatments that would starther friends told tales of courage, but fear was all that she could seefor even with an absent breast life gives no guarantee.What life may bring, we cannot change; but each day holds a choiceand part of healing is to speak, to give our pain a voicefor courage is not lack of fear, but singing out despiteand living’s more than dodging death, it’s singing through the night.A fine scar on her gentle skin ... a wound within her soulshe hadn’t planned to think of death till she was very oldbut as she rose to dress herself and face another dayshe thought perhaps she’d start to sing and heal herself this way.Now quite awake she stretched herself, her hand went to her chestwhere in another life, there used to be another breastnow in its place just empty space, just skin beneath her handand a change in her self-image she did not yet understand