Your Dying Spouse 634 - The Cossack Way

I've always like Ilya Repin's painting of the Reply of the Zhaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire. (You can read the Cossacks' reply here.)

It's a brawny yet light hearted defiance, and I find it particularly apropos now as the cancer-fight becomes much more personal, and hard. Perhaps the bell for the final round will soon ring, but I'll be on my feet to fight.

That is, after all, the Cossack Way.

In their reply to Sultan Mehmed,

the cossacks were, perhaps, quite blunt.

As Christians, they said, dude, forget it,

we won't bow to a Turkish runt.

I find this a soul-stirring tale,

and I love the ribald answer

from a heart so unashamed-male;

and will speak thus to cancer.

"Go thee, pervert, do thy bidding

and in the doing, show thy heart.

Our swords are drawn, and we'll be ridding

you of your most valued part."

Perhaps I should forgiveness preach

but I just love to hear 'em screech.

Music from William Walton, with Crown Imperial.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.