Be Here and Love You
is a heartfelt collection of illustrated poems written by Kathleen Shure during quarantine following a stem cell transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). These poems-by turns tender, funny, and quietly profound-capture the emotional landscape of serious illness, caregiving, and the fragile beauty of everyday life.
After Kathleen's passing, her daughter Lisa R. Benson, an artist, created pen and ink illustrations in response to each poem, turning the book into a moving posthumous collaboration. Together, the words and images form a powerful tribute to a mother's voice, a daughter's love, and the enduring bond between them.
This book is for readers drawn to poetry about illness, loss, healing, and resilience. It speaks to those navigating grief or caring for loved ones, and to anyone who finds comfort in creative connection and intergenerational storytelling.
A deeply personal and universal collection,
honors the quiet strength of those living through illness and those who carry their stories forward.