Heroes

The alarm was sounded. Without hesitation, they went into action

Habits, ingrained through real life trauma and practice drills, took over

Thoughts were of the needs of others, always

Code 3 to the scene: lights and sirens onward to meet the tragedy

Horrified by the sights that greeted them, but not missing a step

Pulling turnouts up, grabbing equipment, heading without hesitation

To greet the grim scene, head on, fearlessly

Passing fleeing civilians: coughing, dazed, bleeding, crying

Up the down staircase, rushing past those who were seeking safety

Into the darkness and uncertainty, pushing forward, searching

Calling out to victims, survivors, the frightened, cowering humanity

Awakened forever from any sense of complacency

Black smoke, burning jet fuel, screams, crashing walls and cinders

Nothing stopped their upward trek, seeking those who needed their help

Reaching, touching horrified humanity, screaming in fright and pain

“I’m here, I’ll help you!” A joyous sound in the midst of a nightmare

Flashlights illuminating unbelievable destruction and painful death

Heroes, searching desperately for survivors in the midst of the rubble.

Thunderous sounds of crashing architecture, dropping like thrown powder

On top of itself, dropping, dropping, dropping until it reached

Ground Zero.

I Cannot Help But Wonder Why???

I met a little guy, 5 years old, in my travels as a home health nurse. 

He was dirty, and skinny, and had no shoes. When he smiled, his front teeth were all metal. But when he smiled, his eyes sparkled, and I had to return the smile. He lives with his grandpa who is confined to a wheelchair. The little guy is grandpa's caregiver. He was fascinated with my nursing bag and wanted to see everything in it. I wanted to give him something, so I gave him my tape measure. You would think I had given him a winning lottery ticket! He hugged me for an eternity. 

I couldn't stop thinking about him today; and I derived no comfort from knowing that my own grandchildren live comfortably. I wrote this for that little guy.

Is there some plausible reason why

If God made us all the same,

Some people live in abject poverty

And others vacation in Spain?

Why are children born with birth defects

And heart-breaking anomalies?

Why, in the world’s richest nation

Are there so many poor families?

Prenatal care, post partum checks

Well-baby clinics and education

Why can’t this be a reality

In the world’s richest nation?

Preventative medicine, annual check-ups

Should be a routine part of health care.

Keep people well and functional

And keep them off of welfare.

Children in Appalachia

Just want to learn to read.

Their parents never learned

Too many mouths to feed.

Children in Mississippi

Just want a place to live.

Charities look for volunteers

With building skills to give.

Children wandering darkened streets,

Their parents gone, or unknown

Their fondest hope, and greatest wish

Is to find a warm and loving home.

Children who fear going home

To torture and abuse

Children living a silent tragedy

From perpetrators on the loose.

Is this just an isolated problem

Magnified by Media sensation?

Or is this a horrific travesty

In the world’s richest nation?

We have to look at these problems

The depth, and breadth, and scope

For these children are our future

These children are our hope.

Thoughts On Being A Nurse..........

What should I do when all seems lost?

When it is gone, where does hope go?

When dreams die, do they fade away?

Or is there something I should know?

I work each day as a home health nurse,

Dealing always with illness and dying.

Providing support, and comfort, if I can

To those who are angry, or sad, or crying.

On and on the suffering goes

Hurting everyone in its path.

What kind of Being could be in charge?

Why are so many subject to His wrath?

Is there no light at the end of the tunnel?

No source of renewed hope and grace?

Is nothing that is done going to help the suffering?

Why is this such an awful place?

No! Stop! Don’t go there anymore!

Don’t spread the blackness and the doubt!

I reach inside my heart of hearts,

And pull a ray of sunshine out.

I smile and laugh, and hug a lot,

Giving back what has been given to me.

Seeing the goodness and worth in everyone,

Hoping that they, too, can see.

Life is a gamble, life is a challenge

For every bad thing there is something good.

If I could spread sunshine and love every day,

Trust me, I’m a nurse, and I surely would!

Choices...

Each day, when I wake up,
I make a conscious choice:
Hide myself in silence
Or bravely find my voice.

Go out and do the work
That I’ve been trained to do?
Or take another direction
And leave the work for you.

It isn’t always easy
Or even a lot of fun
But I know I feel better
When my work is done.

I’m really nobody special
I’m just another nurse.
Sometimes I care for the sick,
And sometimes, I write verse.

Life is not all good
And life is not all bad
I just try to make each day
The best one I’ve ever had.

Am I just an idiot?
Too dumb to see my Fate?
Or is my Happy Heart,
A very lucky trait?

Whatever life’s meaning,
No matter what the reason,
I’ll deal with things head-on
Each in its due season.

Please don’t think ‘cause I’m smiling
That I don’t know the score.
I know how anger and grief feel,
I just like Happy more!

Another Day

Another day, another life that is nearly ending,
Another loved one, and tears anew,
Another heart needs mending.

I’m there each time, comforting and caring
Trying to think of the right words to say,
As hearts are torn apart.

Wishing I could mend all the hearts I meet
And all the lives that are empty.

Knowing that I can only mend the heart
That lives inside of me.

Hoping for the best each day and giving love
As if I have a supply, never-ending.

Feeling their pain as they say goodbye
To someone who was too precious to lose
And feeling a little part of me die, too.

Can I change what I see on a daily basis?

Can I save these souls who do not want to die?

I am not magic, nor am I a soothsayer
I only know that, when the time comes that I am needed
I will be there.

Angels Among Us

Go quietly into the peaceful night,
Gentle angel on a mission
For your work is done here,
The one you’ve helped is finally healing
And there is no more for you to do.

Go swiftly to another place and time
Brave angel on a mission
To find that person who needs you
Whose life is full of suffering
For there is plenty for you to do.

You cannot chose your missions
Or the people that you are to help
Go, as if guided by the wind
Let the troubled ones come to you
For they are the ones for whom you must do.

Silently, sweetly spread your wings and fly
O’er the earth to that special place
Where someone is dying and needs your love
And needs to see your kindly smile.
For there is much work for you to do.

And when, at last, you can help no more
And you have given all the love that you can
You will lie down, tired and weary
And, on the wings of the glorious angels
You’ll be carried home, for your work is done.