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These poems are not necessarily mine, they are just poems that I feel everybody should read and think about, or, poems that had a profound affect on me personally. If you read nothing else on any of my web pages, please read these poems, and really think about it. Whether it be the animals or people in the poems....How would you feel if it were you?...There are poems in here regarding orphaned animals, child abuse, and neglected elderly...again, how would you feel?
POEM #1
Alone Again (a dog's thoughts)
I wish someone would tell me
What it is that I've done wrong,
Why I have to stay chained up
And left alone so long.
They seemed so glad to have me
When I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we'd do
While I was growing up.
They couldn't wait to train me
As companion and as friend.
They told me they would never fear
Being left alone again.
The children said they'd feed me,
Said they'd brush me every day,
They'd play with me and walk me,
If only I could stay.
But now the family hasn't time.
They often say I shed.
They won't allow me in the house,
Not even to be fed.
The children never walk me.
They always say "NOT NOW!"
I wish that I could please them
Won't someone tell me how?
All I have is love, you see,
I wish they would explain,
Why they said they wanted me
Then left me on a chain.
Author Unknown
After reading this, why don't you go and give your doggie (or kitty) a hug. Imagine not being able to speak and not knowing why you have to suffer and not be fed and tied up on a chain all day long (in many cases). Let's all pull together to end animal abuse and take the time to really care for the ones we have, after all, all animals have feelings too.
POEM #2
This second poem, See Me, I believe every healthcare professional should read and think, what if this were me? Remember to treat each patient as a "person" and not as a "number" or as "the patient in bed #)
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!
POEM #3
You Didn't Even Say Goodbye
Author - Andrew Siegele
"Woof!" I said as you started the car,
"Hooray!" I said, it's my first time afar.
The scents we were passing were all new to me,
For it was my first introduction to this mysterty.
As we got out of the car I embraced you with joy,
After all you remembered to bring my favorite toy!
You threw it once or twice, of which I retrieved,
But on the third it seemed you were ready to leave.
You threw it long and hard and I chased it like lightning,
But when I turned to bring it back I saw a sight quite frightening.
I gripped my toy hard as I tried to comprehend
What it was I did wrong to make our relationship end.
You walked back to your car as I sat there still loyal.
Why am I subservient and you so royal?
Your engine started, and you peeled out into the night,
You didn't even care about my overwhelming fright.
As I sat in my pose determined you would come back,
The sun faded behind me while the surroundings turned black.
Day after day I stayed in that park,
Lying... waiting... too feeble to bark.
As I lay there dying thinking of you master,
I asked myself how I got into this horrifying disaster.
With my last breath of life, I whispered your name
Then I collapsed in a heap overrun by pain.
Why didn't you love me master? Why didn't you care?
Had I no significance, was I just a clump of hair?
I stayed there master and I waited for you
I guess taking care of me was just too much to do.
I'm gone now master, no more You-and-I
But what I can't figure out is why you didn't even say goodbye...
POEM #4
A Dog Sits Waiting
Author - Valerie Perkins
A dog sits waiting in the cold autumn sun.
Too faithful to leave, too frightened to run.
He's been there for days with nothing to do,
But sit by the road, waiting for you.
He can't understand why you left him that day.
He thought you and he were stopping to play.
He's sure you'll come back, that's why he stays.
How long will he suffer, how many days?
His legs are weak, his throat parched and dry.
He's sick from hunger and falls with a sigh.
He lays down his head and closes his eyes.
I wish you could see how a waiting dog dies!!
POEM #5
Misty (a poem about child abuse that I foung at break the chain.org - I could not find the author's name, but I had to add it in because it is a powerful example of just how horrible child abuse is.)
"Misty"
My name is Misty
I'm only three,
My eyes are swollen
I cannot see,
I must be stupid
I must be bad,
What else could have
Made my daddy so mad?
I wish I were better
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy
Would still want to hug me.
I can't speak at all
I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up
All the day long.
When I awake
I'm all alone
The house is dark
My folks aren't home.
When my mommy does come
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just
One whipping tonight.
Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car
My daddy is back
From Charlie's Bar.
I hear him curse,
My name he calls,
I press myself
Against the wall.
I try and hide
From his evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.
He finds me weeping,
He shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault
That he suffers at work.
He slaps me and hits me
And yells at me more,
I finally get free
And I run for the door.
He's already locked it
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me
Against the hard wall.
I fall to the floor
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues
With more bad words spoken.
"I'm sorry!", I scream,
But its much too late.
His face has been twisted
Into unimaginable hate.
The hurt and the pain
Again and again.
Oh please God, have mercy!
Oh please let it end!
And he finally stops
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless
Sprawled on the floor.
My name is Misty
And I am but three,
Tonight my daddy
Murdered me.
I am going to add more poems, but now that you have read these 5 poems, why don't you go hug your elderly family member, or child, or dog, or cat, or, Anyone...we all could use a hug now and then. :-)
