Dancing in a Circle: A Poem for Caroline

Bryson starting shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s in 2010 to honor his friend, Caroline, who was battling childhood cancer. Two weeks after his first shave, Caroline, 8, passed away. Bryson’s mom, Lucy, said, “St. Baldrick’s does more than raise research dollars for curing childhood cancers. It helps heal those who lost a loved one.” She wrote this poem in memory of Caroline.

It all started in third grade after a long fall break
When their friend Caroline came to class.
She wore a pretty headband with a flower.
Behind that ribbon was a bandage and no hair.
The kids rushed around her with hugs and good cheer.
Caroline gave them her crooked smiled and raised her hands.
And they all danced with great joy, laughing, oh, laughing.
She left early that day and for the days after that.
You see, Caroline got so tired that school wore her out.
But she missed her friends, needed to see them, if only for a while.
After Thanksgiving break, when Bryson got back to school, he counted.
Twenty-two boys and girls usually filled the room
But he counted again and again and still came up with 21.
It had to be Caroline because she was never late.
“Mrs. Kent, where is Caroline, where can she be?”
“Caroline is very sick and won’t be back, you see.
But she is thinking about us all and we must do the same.”
For a whole month Bryson kept his eye on Caroline’s seat
But finally could not stand it and raised his hand high.
“Mrs. Kent, what can we do that will help her get better?
Sending cards and pictures are just not nearly enough!
I want to do something that will help her, and me!
I am so sad for my friend and I just know I can do more.”
So Alex and Bryson and Mandy and Jack and Michael
And JN and Laura and Jake and Betsy and Wilson
And Colt and Reid all put their heads together
And suddenly it came to them as clear as a bell.
“We have hair. Caroline has none. Let’s give her ours!”
You see, Bryson had learned about a great cause from a friend.
Losing your hair is scary for anyone, especially for kids with cancer.
Some big-hearted men challenged each other to shave their heads.
Friends, then strangers, paid money to see them go bald.
By the time the hair was cleaned up a whole lot of money was raised
To go towards research to stop cancer from hurting kids.
The class got excited, “It’s something we can do!”
The girls were nervous their moms would say no
Well, all told, the boys were, too.
Before you knew it, they had a big event planned.
Seven kids from a class of 21 got the courage to lose their locks.
All the others made pledges and did their part.
Through all this excitement, they sent Caroline notes and pictures.
They even made her a video explaining what they wanted to do.
Caroline’s mom sent a video back showing Caroline doing what she did best.
She danced for her friends, with her crooked grin and her arms stretched out wide
And invited them all to her eighth birthday party.
What a magical day it was for the kids.
Their friend was carried in by her smiling dad
As they all sang loudly the birthday tune.
And that special girl cracked her great big smile.
No one brought presents, that was the deal.
But the giving was generous, oh, so generous that day.
After an hour Caroline waved goodbye.
It was a few weeks later that the brave kids rallied and shaved their heads
And even some dads and brothers got involved.
Together they added it up and raised more money than they could have imagined,
All to go for research to help doctors find a cure.
A few days later we went by Caroline’s to let her rub Bryson’s newly shaved head
We hugged her and her parents and together we danced with our arms over our heads
As Caroline looked on.
She died two weeks later.
But, we promised ourselves we weren’t sad any more.
Now Caroline did not have to hurt.
She had fought all she could, now it was time for her to dance.
She can smile that crooked grin
And raise her hands in the air and dance a circle
All over heaven looking down on us.
And each year, Bryson, he remembers his sweet friend
And to honor her he shaves his head
So that other kids won’t have to go through what Caroline, and he, did.

What will YOU do to help kids with cancer?

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You may also like these kids’ cancer poems:

• What Cancer Cannot Do
• When It’s My Turn to Shave for St. Baldrick’s
• Memory of the Summer Olympics (and Childhood Cancer)
• I Am a Man and I Cry