In August of 2023, we released our fourth open call: How might we reimagine healing and transformation with cancer through poetry, art, letters, and stories? This post will share a transcription of an email interview with Caroline Johnson, a winner of this open call, whose submission, “The Language of Cancer,” will be published in Issue 4 of the LIGHT Magazine. A special thank you to Caroline for sharing his LIGHT story with us.

Caroline Johnson – The Language of Cancer

Q: Tell us a little about your submission and why it relates to reimagine healing and transformation with cancer. Why did you choose this medium (i.e. art, letter, story, poem)?

A: “I write poetry, primarily, and have been writing for 30 years.”

Q: What motivated you to submit this work to our open call?

A: “I am a breast cancer survivor and have been working on a poetry manuscript about cancer… “The Language of Cancer” is from that manuscript.”

Q: What inspired this work?

A: “My sister’s heroic battle with bone cancer, and mine with breast cancer, inspired the work.”

Q: What is one word to describe the process of creating your work for this open call, and why did you choose that word?

A: “I think the one word might be “language,” as the poem references not only how we speak or don’t speak when faced with a terminal illness (or observe our loved one facing one), but it also talks about the “dead” language of Creole.”

Q: Why do you think creativity matters in public health space / in the health fields? 

A: “I think we need more creativity in public health spaces, especially in health fields such as hospitals, cancer institutes, and others. I have attended a narrative medicine conference and spoken to doctors wishing to write from the “other” creative side of their brain.”

Q: How does your submission reflect your artistic style or personal voice?

A: “I think this poem started with my childhood, and my early memories of my sister Debbie’s battle with bone cancer, which unfortunately, tragically, she lost at age 15 when I was only 8. I think I resurrected these memories of how our family coped with her death, as I now reflect on my own cancer.”

Q: What do you hope to achieve or communicate through your work being selected for publication in LIGHT Magazine? What impact or impression, emotions or thoughts, do you intend to make on the audience or viewers with your submission?

A: “I was flattered that my poem won 2nd place. I hope it communicates a visceral response to how cancer touches so many lives, not just the patient’s. I hope the poem helps readers to resonate with any experience involving cancer and that it could potentially have a purging effect.”

Q: How do you envision your piece contributing to healing and transformation of those affected by cancer?

A: “I think only modern medicine can really (hopefully) heal or cure cancer, but there is definitely room for psychological healing, and healing from emotional trauma. If my poem has any reach regarding that, I will have succeeded.”

Q: From your perspective, what is the best way to encourage others to use creativity to disseminate/share health information concerning healthy spaces and places or other public health topics and/or issues? 

A: “My poetry is purging and healing for myself, but I do believe it carries another role, and that is to bring readers along in the journey, to potentially help purge and heal their thoughts or emotions.”

Q: How has LIGHT provided you with a platform or space to express yourself through creativity or process personal experiences?

A: “I have chosen to title my poetry collection, “The Language of Cancer,” due to the success of this poem, which is now the title poem in the collection. The book is under contract and will be forthcoming in 2025 by Kelsay Books.”

Issue 2 of the LIGHT Magazine is now available for purchase in our shop!

LIGHT is currently looking for donors and sponsors to help us keep our project going. If you are interested in supporting our publication, please email us at info@light4ph.org.

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