Poem by Sandra Sortwell Makau
Near Miss
I swerve when I hear the doctor’s words,
the news of her 26 cancerous lymph nodes
crosses the line and veers into my lane
the impact like an oncoming car
fast and out of control.
I reach to protect her from the fatal sound
of impending diagnosis;
the doctor’s face softens,
options replace shock,
a plan formulates.
Her brush with death is rerouted,
we take the detour of
hope
fear
love.
About the Author – Sandra Sortwell Makau
Sandy Sortwell Makau lives in Chico, California. Her articles and essays have been published by The New York Times Syndicate, and Frommer’s Budget Travel, to name a few. Her poetry has appeared in Multicultural Echoes, New Verse New and read, on air, for NPR during National Poetry Month.
Keep Reading…
- A Tree Grows in Two Directions
Above ground, we notice the trunk, the branches, the leaves, the fruit. Below ground, the roots are doing quieter work: growing into darkness, responding to gravity, creating the strength that makes everything visible possible. This article explores that idea through writing: the private work, discarded pages, questions, stream-of-consciousness writing, and all the thoughts that happen before a finished piece ever reaches another reader. - Anne Carson Wins the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. The announcement celebrates a writer whose work continues to expand the possibilities of literature, moving between poetry, prose, translation and visual art. - Clarity, Drunk
Uncle Dave had come upstairs to get my dad. There was much more drinking to be had, and to be fair to Dave (not really an uncle), my dad did have a habit of falling asleep in my room while his night was still young.
Meanwhile, at Dreamers…
Fireside Writing Retreat
It’s simple; a set of prompts, a loose structure, and time set aside to move through it at your own pace. You can follow it closely or not at all. There’s no expectation to produce anything finished.
Dreamers Writing Farm
Dreamers Writing Farm is the physical home of the Dreamers community, a quiet, creative space on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. Writers, artists, and travellers stay here throughout the year in simple, literary-themed cabins, tents, and studio suites.