The Countdown by D.C.Monteny
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
I stopped
Counting in years and months
After today
I’ll have to count in months and weeks
The chemo didn’t work
My cancer has grown
And spread out again
Despite the treatment
Not much chance
Of stopping it now
So it was dark news
I had to tell my sister
I had to tell my brother
I had to tell my friends
And here
I’ll have to tell you
We all have a sell-by date
Mine seems to be
Fast approaching
But until then
I’ll keep you updated
And I’m very thankful
For all well wishes
They always make my day
Be they religious or not
Maybe the one good thing
That will come out of stopping
The chemo therapy
Is that I won’t be tired anymore
That I will be able again
To create
To give something back
To all you beautiful people
Out there
I’m an atheist
So I’ll continue
To live my life
As the only one
I will ever have
And recognize
A beautiful day
As a beautiful day
And cherish them
------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much for reading this far and any comments you might have.
Have a GREAT week
Dirk

Comments (23)
Words of power. I wish you strength. Bunny
my thoughts are with you........
{{{{{{my dear friend, Dirk))))))) The prayers continue- no matter the difference in our beliefs, and though my heart hurts for you and your family..and for us at the prospect of losing you..I realize that you will live on in the legacy you have left for us in words and art; in being you. With love and appreciation, Linda ps.. As long as your strength allows, I do look forward to those new creations!
you are amazing i hope im as brave the wind , my friend thank you fo r strength , we will all be needing , love deliverence
No, not atheist....one has to believe, in one's self, if not then the word would not exist. The belief of a greater strength takes many...many people to levels of comfort and safety, and rightly so. The belief itself was set to calm no? Calm comes in many flavors..... Your struggle has been for me painful, joyful, painful, understanding, resolution, I live each day as if it were my last, you have taught us an understanding that will never be repeated Dirk, God is what we want it to be, it is not an image, a person, a thought. The idea lives not in any house made of man, only in our minds......It is a word that means something completely different in every country around the world. So lets take the politics out of it and we have the simplicity of the whole idea.........be good, be kind, love your neighbor, do to other's what you would expect done to you. I learned about a word in college that filled my atheistic heart with joy... Namaste... Saluting the soul of ever one I met, listening not judging, not reading a book that for me, hasn't been written, it's a word that belongs to the buddist gods... Excepting...Dear Dirk, your inspiration, your words, your writing, art....all have impacted my life and I am very sure, the lives of many you have shared this journey with. Tell the doc's to suck the poison from here out, you have stuff to do... Thank you Dirk
My heart goes out to you Dirk.. I wish I could give you strength, or hope or faith..but I cann't. I can only give you my admiration. You are an example to me.. as an artist, as a xenodreamer, but even more, in the way you share your experience in life and living, in that way you are an example to me. I love you {{{{Dirk}}}} !
I will look forward to reading your words for as long as you can write. I appreciate you sharing your process - you're making a difference in my world.
Dark news indeed, my friend. Like Tara, I will look forward to seeing your amazing creations. Your strength and attitude are an inspiration to me.
Oh Dirk.. had so hoped for better news. Your courage through this has been an inspiration to me. I have been chronically ill for a very long time.. each day is an ordeal of exhaustion and pain, but because of you I have been trying my best to make things better.. to live what little I can. I will be watching for your gifts to us. You have already given us so many gifts... far beyond your art... {{{HUGS}}}} Sandy
Dirk, There are no adequate words to express what I feel. I know that because of knowing you my life has changed. You have shared your hopes, and your inner heart with us. You have valiantly struggled to live as full a life as you can. That is more than some people who walk this earth ever accomplish. I will say this much and this is my personal belief. The only thing that makes this hell on earth worth going through, is believing at the end of mortal life, it isn't the end. Death is a process, not an end. Lea
I wish you the best and look forward to your creations.
words tumble out out of my being like floods torrents pouring out all-at-once they continue fall scatter strewn about what remains says: believe what you must keep searching striving for the angles of light the curves the colors hues textures inthe beauty acceptance further down the path we will know recognize each other with no rememberance of how/when Here/There/Nowhere In the Infinite Moment
{{{ my thoughts are with you }}}
It breaks my heart that nothing helped but you made the right decision. If your therapy can't extend your lifespan, then you should rather live it as powerful as possible. Enjoy every second and make the best of it. I'm looking forward to see you creating your beautiful art again. Big warm hugs!
Whatever your belief system, you are still in God's hands. My prayers for you continue. You are a brave warrior in a battle to the death. Your contributions to the world, people, and animals have been great. Your art has moved me deeply. Your bravery has also moved me deeply. With love and affection from far away. Marion
Amazing creation my friend.....!!!! Strong poem.......!!!!!
You give us so much, Dirk, and the very fact you're sharing this most difficult journey takes my breath away. I'm learning from you and thank you for all of it. May you find some peace in the days ahead.
Your words, as always, are profound and inspiring in so many ways! I look forward to reading whatever you write, whenever you write it, and I thank you for that. None of us knows how long we've got: as you said, we each have a sell-by date, and bearing that in mind, I can only say that I'm glad for the time that I have here, and for meeting the people here who have become something of my extended family. Thank you for being a part of that.
I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE THAT LONG-FOUND YOU THROUGH AN IMAGE THAT IMPRESSED ME. YOUR A VERY TALENTED ARTIST & WRITER. YOU IMPRESS WITH VISION AND WORD. BOTH POWERFULL TOOLS. YOU HAVE USED THEM WELL-YOU MAY NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME TO YOUR PAGES AND READ THEM..WERE TOUCHED..LEFT NO COMMENT..BUT YOURS HAD VALUE TO MANY. ALL THE FOLK AND ARTIST YOU HAVE MEET HERE ARE AFFECTED THE SAME WAY..MANY GIFTS HAVE PASSED FROM YOU TO THEM..I WILL NOT MORN YOUR LEAVING-HAVE NO USE FOR THAT..I WILL CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE THE PART I HAVE LEARNED. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GIFTS..I HAVE KEPT A FEW..FOR INSPERATION..WHEN MY BRAIN DECIDES NOT TO WORK ANY MORE (NOT THAT MY BRAIN THINKS..LOL) I look for some thing in other works to get me going again.I KNOW YOU WILL READ EVERY ONE OF THESE MESSAGES...KNOW THERE COMING FROM HEARTS THAT FEEL DEEPLY..YOUR BLESSED..BEING HERE WAS AND STILL IS YOUR JOURNEY..ENJOY THE TRIP..IT'S NOT WERE WE ARE GOING THAT COUNTS..IT IS HOW WE GET THERE ..THE JOURNEY WE TRAVEL THROUGH..THATS THE LIFE WE LIVE THAT COUNTS..SO GIVE YOUR FAMILY A BIG SMILE AND ASK THEM TO BE HAPPY IN KNOWING THEY WERE GIVEN A GIFT IN YOU..ALWAYS..K
I agree with Dinhi .. Namaste .. That which is holy in me, bows to and greets that which is holy in you. My soul greets your soul. And I know that we will all meet again somewhere, sometime, and muse to ourselves, I know this soul. But today I am here, wondering how I can give to you some of my strength in return for all the strength, joy, truth and beauty you have shared so freely, and continue to share. Namaste ...
You know what? I have been all over your gallery so many times. It all started with Urchin. I have seen and left comments hundreds of times. I feel like I know you, though I couldn't, could I? I have dozens of your pieces in my folders and have used them for desktop wallpaper again and again. I will NOT waste this time in sadness and in crying. I will instead tell you that you will live on and on in my heart as long as I exist. Your words, your art, the things you have shared...you have become a part of me, and so many others. While I still can, I will continue to tell you that I love all the beauty that you have given me. Every time you post, every time I sit and wipe away tears, I will make myself smile, and remember Urchin and where it all started. A sad beginning, but a beautiful voyage.
I never really know what to say in these circumstances but I wish to let you know that I've loved to see your masterly work and that I wish you and your family all the strength needed for the time to come.
I am sorry I have not met you long ago. I am awed by your words and your work. Overwhelmed at the moment.