Open Your Heart Poem by Mark Heathcote

Open your heart and cleave out a foothold
and climb out of the perpetual darkness
that malignant cancer-with-a footnote
oh, I'd like to know how to proceed without melancholy.
And how to succeed; and how to prosper
with faith and hope, a conviction love
will guide every footstep in the battle.
Love without padlocks, bars, chains, or shackles,
shade or shadow will awaken in your heart
poke a slender ladder reaching the stars
hang there for others to cling on to, climb
and for a moment, as you gaze, look back
you'll remember the hammer that chiselled-
away at you, the horror, the pain
that nearly destroyed you, and you'll laugh
tears of overwhelming joy, as redemption
gathers up all its teary oceans again to cry,
you'll laugh and dance and sing hallelujah
I'm free of pain and torment once again.