stop

everything didn't
stop
at cancer

the world kept
revolving

my mother was still
eighty-eight
and slowing

my granddaughter
still pregnant

my son
still fighting for
custody

nothing changed
with cancer

my sisters still fought
with each other
with me

money was still tightening
an ever taunting
noose

the car still stopped
and is stopped
still

nothing changed
the world didn't hold
its breath

giving me time to scream
to cry to rage
to grieve

nothing changed
except
everything