One Man Shares the Life Lessons He Learned From His Nine Year-Old Hospital Roommate with Cancer in One Remarkably Beautiful Poem

Credit: theheartthrills.wordpress.com

At 2007’s Words Aloud Festival, Canadian spoken word poet Shane Koyczan performed a poem he wrote called “The Crickets Have Arthritis.” This beautiful poem shares the lessons he learned about illness, love, life and grief from his nine year-old roommate named Louis who was dealing with cancer. One particularly poignant moment involves Louis asking Shane whether he believes in angels and the profound conversation that ensues between the two of them.

Koyczan’s poem reminds us that no matter how young — or old — people struggling with serious illnesses may be, it does not mean they lack wisdom about the difficult times that they are dealing with. Sometimes children are the ones who can open our eyes the widest with their acquired wisdom that seem both profound and innocent at the same time.

Paper and pen serve as that much-needed best friend where I can pour my heart out while not having to worry about other people’s opinions on what I have to say.

Personally, poetry has always been close to my heart and being, and I find it to be a crucial tool whenever I am dealing with something difficult in life, such as grief and loss. Paper and pen serve as that much-needed best friend where I can pour my heart out while not having to worry about other people’s opinions on what I have to say.

While many people might be more familiar with reading poetry — whether classic or contemporary — or writing their own poems to comfort themselves during times of grief and loss, Koyczan’s performance demonstrates the importance of the spoken word. Although sharing some of our innermost thoughts aloud with mostly complete strangers can often be challenging and intimidating for many people, performing can greatly aid the poet’s grieving process. By opening your heart up through reading the intimate words you have written, you allow a conversation to open up with strangers who have become somewhat like friends and can offer words of solace and advice from their own personal experiences of loss and grief — parts of life that we all commonly share.

You can watch Shane Koyczan’s performance of “The Crickets Have Arthritis” below: