Looking On from the Outside: Sister to Sister
Powerful, Poignant Poetry Cancer - A Journey
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The Dawning
We watched her, a flurry of emotions weaved their way across her face
As she struggled to remain composed as the tyranny of fate
clawed its ugly hands into her subconscious and her understanding
but she would’ve liked to have remained unaware of the circumstances at hand
And so we watched her, a myriad of conflicting thoughts and emotions, struggled for independence within her downcast soul, where fleeting stabs of pain crawled lazily across her eyes, the windows to the soul, so they say, and instantly her pain had shadowed our hearts
She stood poised, in a stance of dejection, her limbs locked in a prison of fear insecurity and uncertainty had now taken hold and it seemed as if she was looking down upon herself, watching her life drift by in a haze and momentarily she was lost in a maze of shock
We watched her further still, wanting to hold her and rock her within the warmth and comfort of our arms, but we remained silent and still, respecting her silent plea to be left alone, yet sensing more than ever before that she needed us there, our presence, our thoughts and our strength in numbers
So we left her, seated in the world of her thoughts, but she knew we’d be there for her – always
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Looking On from the Outside: Sister to Sister is a selection of poetry about the emotional roller coaster experienced by our family as a close female relative was diagnosed with cancer. It journeys through this time of pain, grief, futility, hope and the struggle to comprehend circumstances around this disease. At that time, she was only 34 years young when diagnosed, yet this made a huge impact on our lives as well as that of our relative. Therefore, through the pain we experienced, I have used this as a stepping stone to produce this beautiful little book of poetry. I hope the book encapsulates some of the emotions felt by many of you who have experienced the same pain of seeing a loved one suffer from cancer. Yet more importantly, this book is dedicated to all the wonderful human beings out there who struggle daily with pain or a disease and who persevere against the odds and often who come out triumphant. For others who do not survive, this book commends their strength and tenancity to battle it through until the end. I would also like to dedicate this book to my good friend Alyson, who too suffered from breast cancer and who I hope will find some strength from the material in this book. On a closing note, therefore, I do hope that these poems will serve to touch the heart and spirit of someone out there. We all deal with circumstances differently, but I hope and pray that through the words in this book someone will be comforted. Someone may feel to put pen to paper themselves, others may just want to sit quietly and reflect. Whatever it is you receive from this book, know that it is sent with love from me to you.
About the Author
Esther Austin is in her early forties and has two boys. She was brought up in Willesden, has two sisters and is of Barbadian parentage. She loves spending time with her children, going to the theatre, writing, eating out, studying, taking part in sponsored events and being physically active.
Esther is passionate about empowering and inspiring people and she does this through her writing, and is currently studying to become a Personal Life Coach.
Esther also has a passion and love of writing. She writes comedy, inspirational material and poetry. She has had many poems published in several different anthologies, has had material read over the BBC World Service, has read poetry over the air, had 10 of her best poems published in 2002 in a book along with other authors called Ocean Spray by Forward Press. She also had a short horror story published. In April 2003 she had a compilation of her own poetry published called Emotions in Transit – This is Life, ISBN: 0-9545918-2-8. In October 2003, she published a comedy book called Laugh at Life with Me – From a little Bajan Woman’s Perspective (Volume I) - ISBN Number: 0-9545918-0-1 and in April 2004 Laugh at Life with Me (Some More) – From a little Bajan Woman’s Perspective ISBN: 0-9545918-1-x.
To be published in October 2006 - Laugh at Life with Me: Teenagers (Volume III) - ISBN: 1-4259-4387-X
Caribbean Woman – Focus In the Community (www.caribbeanwoman.co.uk)
Esther is Director of a community website called Caribbean Woman –Focus In the Community. Her sister, Deborah helped set up the site. The aims and objectives of this site are to inspire and encourage people of Caribbean heritage in their personal development and growth.