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Riktor48 · Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Essex, UK

This came up briefly in our 'Ask Me a Question' thread..... and I thought it would be a good idea to have a separate topic devoted to it.

What's your favourite poem(s)? Why not post it here!

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Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. (Alexander Pope - Essay on Man)

SageCat · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

You just beat me to it Sir! Great minds think alike! LOL Sign

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Riktor48 · Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Essex, UK

It really is a great day.......... England beating the Aussies, and now me getting one over Sage..........

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Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. (Alexander Pope - Essay on Man)

RavenStar · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject:

Ok ~ my favourite poem I've already posted in 'Ask Me a Question' (but I'll re~post it here in a second or two)

This is another of my favourites......

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

RavenStar · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

OK ~ this poem is by far the most moving and poignant poem I've ever come across. I first came across it when I was a Nurse Student back in 1986/7 and I did my first stint on an elderly ward. The words really moved me and shaped my attitude towards nursing elderly patients. Over the years, when working with the elderly, I've always made my Nursing Students read it and comment on it at the beginning of their placements with the hopes it would encourage them to be thoughtful, compassionate Nurses.

See Me

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
Are you thinking, when you look at me --
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply,
When you say in a loud voice -- "I do wish you'd try."

Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe,
Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill.

Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at ME...
I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still;
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another,
A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet.
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet;
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep;
At twenty-five now I have young of my own,
Who need me to build a secure, happy home;
A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;
At fifty once more babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel --
'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where once I had a heart,
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again,
I think of the years, all too few -- gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last --
So I open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman, look closer, nurses -- see ME!

This poem was found among the possessions of an elderly lady who died in the geriatric ward of a hospital. No information is available concerning her -- who she was or when she died.

Riktor48 · Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Essex, UK

Thanks RS - it is very moving, and I hoped you'd post it here - where it wouldn't be 'lost'.......
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Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. (Alexander Pope - Essay on Man)

SageCat · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject:

Oh bloody hell, now RS has beaten me to it!! Doh

I was going to post Desiderata! I have it on a large plaque sort of thingey in my computer/study/messy room.

Rik wrote

RavenStar · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject:

SageCat · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject:

The wind will change and your face will stay like that! (I can remember my mum saying that to me!)

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RavenStar · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject:

Here's another one..... Hope you like it as much as me

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD
By SANDY C. WALL

I have climbed the highest mountain
And sailed the ocean wide
But nothing could ever fill my heart
Like a smile from a child,
I have seen the sunsets
That would take your breath away,
But nothing could ever shine so bright
When a child is brought our way,
When temptations were so many
And i dealt with selfish pride
Nothing could ever turn my head
Like a cry from a child,
This life is filled with obstacles
That make us want to hide,
But the world will always turn on time
Through the eyes of a child,
I've seen my days of sadness
And worry was so much
But nothing could ever cleared my mind
Like a childs gentle touch,
I have walked through darkened valleys
And traveled wayward miles
But nothing could stop me in my tracks
Like a smile from a child,
Our lives are set on a time scale
The clock will tick away
But there are no minutes for us to count
When a child has ask to play,
These eyes of mine are growing old
The future i cannot see
But the world never felt so much at peace
When a child sits on my knee.
I have lived my life on chances
And that’s how it was meant to be
But i've always had an angel
To watch carefully over me,
God sends us guardian angels
And we know not what their size
To help us with this life down here
To walk us through our miles,
God sends you this blessing
A little angel comes your way
To fill your heart with happiness
With every passing day,
So lift your arms to heaven
And hold them open wide,
God sends you a life of treasures
Through the eyes of a child