Our Personal Gaman:
A Poetic Palette in the Circle of Life
by
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A Child’s Burning Question ’Twas a warm day with rays of sunshine radiating to illuminate her cheeks flushed like beets, The 12-year-old, exhausted from her physical education class, asked me, “Can I not take gym? I get so tired because the exercises are so strenuous And I can’t run fast enough. I am not athletic like the other kids. I can dance but I can’t play ball: I hide when they throw a ball at me!” Hmmm … I pondered whether my child was simply being manipulative Or whether there was another more complex underlying issue. I remembered that during my child’s elementary school days, I had to often administer an allergy medication that occasionally produced drowsiness. ’Twas a sheer wonder the child, given that medication, was able to pay attention in class. To the pediatrician’s office we marched, hand in hand, and asked him Whether he could provide a medical release to excuse the child from gym class. Astounded and equally perplexed, the doctor probed further, Knowing that his patient had battled the full gamut of allergies. As he was prepared to order a series of blood tests, I recommended that she be tested for lupus. “Why?” wondered the doctor, who realized the difficulty in diagnosing this disease Because of its multiple characteristics. Alas, family history did play a significant role. Long ago, the little girl’s grandma had died of this then-mysterious disease after a 15-year battle. ’Twas the worst day when my worst fear was confirmed: The test results were positive for systemic lupus erythematosus! In the car, seeing her pillar of strength now distraught and overcome by a deluge of tears, The little girl asked in a heart-wrenching manner: “Am I going to die, mama?” Fighting to maintain some composure, I gently explained, “At some point in time, everyone must die. You can die when you cross the street and be hit by a car! But you are not going to die of lupus right now. Not today.” With that soothing thought, we drove home at the first glimmer of dusk As classical music played softly and offered some semblance of tranquility.
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About the Book
This anthology of poems depicts the story of our family—which has been dealt a certain deck of cards and is challenged to make choices—and it paints portraits of furry companions and people who have played important roles and who have made an impact in our lives. Weaving a poignant and inspiring story to describe our gaman, a Zen Buddhist term that expresses perseverance and discipline in the face of adversity, this conglomeration of poems aims to remind us to persevere and always move forward, despite arduous challenges, never allowing personal turmoil to occupy center stage.
About the Author
Having been told by a world-renowned authority that her only child diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disorder and organ involvement at the age of 12 will have an additional 5 years of life, the author describes how she and her husband decide to direct which path their daughter will follow. Using free-verse poetry, the author recounts her personal background as a young student, mother, and professional editor, and her family history as she weaves a poignant and inspiring story that aims to remind everyone to persevere and always move forward (the concept of which is captured in the word “gaman” in the book title). Despite a person’s challenges and afflictions, the author motivates her readers to never allow personal trials to command center stage and, most importantly, to choose to live and continue the journey in the circle of life.