Freedom Fighter - Matt Goodfellow

           (for Jacob, a true warrior)

he doesn’t notice the smell
of disinfectant any more

or the lights
and the feel
of hospital sheets

the wounds
where the hickman line
was inserted
hurt

but he fights

his face
limbs
body
are swollen by steroids

he is bald

but he fights

three birthdays
pass

a sister is born

friends
in shiny shoes
start school

he watches
others ring the
end-of-treatment bell

on the ward

watches others
who never will

he fights
and he fights

through despair
              into hope

and a bell
starts to ring

Jacob’s hand
              on the rope