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Poems
You and I
written by Elaine Popvich
| I am a resident. |
You reside. |
| I am admitted. |
You move in. |
| I have behavior problems. |
You are rude. |
| I am non-compliant. |
You don’t like being told what to do. |
| When I ask you out to dinner, it is an outing. |
When you ask someone out, it is a date. |
I don’t know how many
people have read the
progress notes about me.
I don’t even know what’s in there. |
You didn’t speak to your best
friend for a month after she
read your journal. |
I make mistakes during my
check writing program.
Someday I might get a
checking account. |
You forgot to record withdrawals
from your account. The bank calls
to remind you. |
I celebrated my birthday yesterday
with 5 other residents and 2 staff members.
I hope my family send me a card. |
Your family threw you a surprise party. |
I am on a special diet because
I am 5 pounds over my ideal body weight. |
You’re doctor gave up telling you. |
| I am learning household skills. |
You hate housework. |
| I am learning leisure skills. |
Your shirt says you are a couch potato. |
My case manager and other professionals
set goals for me for next year. |
You haven’t decided what you
want out of life. |
| Someday I will be discharged - - - -maybe. |
You will move onward and upward. |
Slow
Dance
If you know her name, we would like to attribute
Have you ever watched
kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Ever followed a
butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun
into the fading night?
You better slow
down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each
day
On the fly?
When you ask How are
you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred
chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow
down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had
time
To call and say,"hi"
You'd better slow
down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to
get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and
hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is
not a race.
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
This
poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.
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