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Home For Tea – May 2009
You rest in doctors room the struggle great,
deep in reverie while you wait
as musing you gaze, far from me
I wish we could be home for tea…
but more than this, my wish for you
to not have this life of waging war,
to beseech and plead the pain away
this fervency of another day.
I wish I could bewitch this ‘beast’
to lure in cruel felony at least,
I wish we could be home for tea…
To listen and note every word
erroneous statements, you must see
as babble on, this fallacy
I ask for more, that will not be,
I wish we could be home for tea…
your shoulders crumple, your limbs are weak
but still you smile, polite, unique,
me bitter and hissing I sag within
this undeserved and stricken life
goes through my heart as doth a knife
I wish we could be home for tea
Oh! I wish we could be home for tea…
All Rights Reserved @ May 2009
Life is Fragile – Love Is Not
Life Is Fragile – Love is Not.
So spins our lives in turning chasms of change,
blurred and slippery as water
cascading over slimy rocks,
my wordless gesture in troubled times
invades your worried mind,
fiercely as the brushing hand to restless horse
my smile confirms, to reassure your fretful gaze,
as hell as life sometimes appears
in daily disclosing of newer pain,
my heart swoops and suffers,
my misty eyes, my soul knows
life is fragile, but love is not.
As birds black and shiny soar
to ‘crow’ in noisy rattle begin,
another nasty turn like sin,
to stab in pain, to etch within,
to reproduce in making bold this latest evidence,
dismissing in magicians wand, I wave again
I wave again…
To struggle and plunge I flounder there
impeach myself, still always care,
frightened, damp and cold
my misty eyes, my soul knows
life is fragile, but love is not
love is not…
All Rights Reserved @ May 2009
Poet Laureate – Carol Ann Duffy.
How pleased I was to hear the news, that the very brilliant poet Carol Ann Duffy has been chosen to be our new Poet Laureate. I have been a devotee of her wonderful poems for sometime now, especially her wonderful book “Rapture” which is essential reading for those of us, lucky to understand that poems can help us, even during the most painful episodes in our lives. Her poems are really profound, humane longings of passion, they can and do speak for so many of us. Well done Carol Ann Duffy who is also the very first woman Poet.
Further Poems Of Love.
Can be found at http://www.susiehemingway.blogspot.com
“Breath of Life – My Partner” by Susie Hemingway.
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This poem is dedicated to the partners and love ones of the EMS/Firefighters in Providence Rhode Island USA and to the Paramedics and Firefighters World-Wide.
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Fresh blood falls upon our streets
like dark red satin smooth upon a bed,
wild trees blow and hang their limbs,
as pain strews all living things,
still within, as snug as partners curl
upon a furry rug in fire glow,
my mind tells me you’re safe
my heart knows you are there,
you are the sunlight in my arms…
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My heart impaled, transfixed in fear
when world rocks life so bitter and cruel
this struggle for peace so gently brave,
in quiet times, as I survey the scene
and in frightening moments of terror
come fragrant as a summer rose,
thoughts of you…to clear my mind.
you are the sunlight in my arms,
you are my breath of life…
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” How harsh, how tough, these long days
how precious your honourable soul,
how undemanding how much you care
this ready smile of a brave man
and as you fight for strength, this daily task
your right of sovereignty is quietly protected,
this stillness comes, our land is covered,
lives are changed”
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But, still you are the sunlight in my arms
Still, you are my partner,
Still you are my breath of life…
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All Rights Reserved @ April 2009
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More comments on “Breath Of Life – My Partner” shown on
http://www.susiehemingway.blogspot.com
3.06.2009 Have heard today from Paul Embery, Regional Offical, London Region, FBU, that this poem has been circulated to all members of the London Fire Brigade.
Hamada Update – 24 April 2009
Some awaited tests came back yesterday for those who understand and like to follow Hamada’s journey.
The Skeletal Scan clearly shows the L1, L2 and T8 collapse and now there is a small area showing in the pelvic area,which is to be expected but of course still very worrying.
The Bence Jones is holding at 0.03 but the Para Protein (M-Spike ) is up again, now at 8.4 but not at the speed of the past 3 Months.
The Bone Marrow returned at 5%. better than we had hoped for – was 80% at diagnosis in May 2006 – Stem Cell Transplant achieved to good partial remission in October 2007.
Still, there is to be no further treatment at the moment apart from the massive amounts of maintenance drugs daily, even though the M-Spike is rising…the consultants view is to watch and wait.
I would welcome any comments on these readings from those who understand. Thank you.
Our very best and heartfelt thoughts to all our friends and carers who read this blog, and are making with courage, the same journey as Hamada.
Through My Eyes – by Susie Hemingway
The music, distant, dusty but ours from years ago…
my face in smiles my hands do clap,
Indeed A Wonderful Weekend !
Hamada and I spent such a wonderful four days with younger son Jo in the beautiful Chilterns, Bucks. Jo and his beautiful Laura, entertained and looked after us so very well. It was such a delight to do nothing for the long weekend and so many thanks to Jenny and Ian who helped Hamada to make this journey with help travelling, and all the necessary carrying of extra ‘bits and bobs’ to make Hamada as comfy as could be. Hamada managed so well, but still having to sleep once again after breakfast, enabling him to join the fun in the evening. It was a super time, some good shopping and lots of laughter for me with the girls and wonderful party times in the evenings with superb dinners – Jo being a consummate chef – and not having to cook a single thing the whole weekend, thanks Laura, was an extra treat. It was really special to catch up with family and friends, to see Rich and James once again, they had grown up with Jo and had frequented our family home in earlier years and are now young men. Thank you Jo and Laura, I am sure you noticed the extra sparkle in Hamada’s eyes X
Hamada Continues Well At Easter-Time
Photo: Easter Sunday Last Year ! – 2008. Preparing For the Village Spring Flower Show.
I have spent the morning baking for our Village Spring Flower Show, which is tomorrow. In the morning I will pick a flower or two and some nice greenery, to make a small display to enter. There are not many flowers in my garden that are in bloom at the moment, mostly daffodils but I will see what I can come up with. Although listed as a flower show, there is always a very successful baking section, a wonderful display of scrumptious home baking. Cakes, scones, flans, jams, lemon-curds all manner of goodies . There are some very fine cooks and chefs in the Village but it’s always great fun to enter even as a novice. Some of the men, who would never normally cook have a go, and I can vouch that some of their flapjacks turn out to be very fine indeed! When the serious business of judging is over, all the items are auctioned off, which is such great fun, causing a lot of merriment, as we all get to bid on each others offerings and very often go home with something special for tea.
Shown above: Two simple fruit cakes with a little touch of brandy in each. One ‘old fashioned’ Apple-pie, and Two, Ham, Mustard, Egg and Cheese Flans.