"Somebody's Bright Balloon" is divided into three sections. "Self andOthers: Receivers" are poems that depict with truth and hope thetravails of a cancer patient and the author's interaction with otherpatients and medical professionals.

The second section, "Givers," offers poems about doctors, surgeons, nurses and other hospital staff who care for seriously ill patients. Thefinal section, "The Dark Side" is about concomitantdepression and mental illness that many patients experience.

"Somebody's Bright Balloon" offers a rare glimpse into the thoughts, impressions and coping mechanisms of...