Entry to the club
Is non-discriminatory
You can be admitted
At any time, any age
Race is no barrier
Nor is gender
Or wealth status
Or occupation

And once you’re in
You’re in for life and
You find this extraordinary community
Of people
Who have faced their mortality
And survived

And post-treatment
In the magical land of
Remission
You swap stories
And share your experiences of
Chemo and radiation
And transplants
And side effects
And exhaustion
And fear
And where you found joy
And where you found love

You write the names
Of the lost ones in your heart
And hold them close and
Miss them
And feel fury that they’re gone
And feel grateful that
Despite it all
You had the chance to meet

And you reach out to the other survivors
And hold them close
As you navigate the world
Together
Members of a club
No one chooses to be a part of.