Folk Singer, Folk Singer Sing

 

Folk Singer, Folk Singer Sing

H. W. BRYCE

Folk Singer, Folk Singer sing,
Sing for the folks, do,
Sing with your heart, sing from your soul,
Sing even as you pay The Man’s toll.

Sing for the broken, sing with might,
Sing for the poor, sing up a storm,
Sing for the rich, sing to their core,
Sing for the beggars, sing for them there.

Sing for us all, Folk Singer sing,
Sing for us because we need love,
Sing for the peace dove, let your voice ring,
Sing for us now, Folk Singer sing.

The world’s in a mess, we need you to sing,
We need more songs, not more bullets to ring,
We need more doctors ’cause more people are ill,
We need more quiet, we need nerves to be still,

Sing Folk Singer sing, sing from the heart,
Sing us together, don’t let us part,
Teach us to sing , teach us the words,
Teach us to to be free, free like the birds.

Folk Singer, Folk Singer sing,
Sing for the folks, do,
Sing with your heart, sing from your soul,
Sing even as you pay The Man’s toll.

Sing Folk Singer sing, teach us harmony,
Teach us the parts, not love of the money,
Lead us Folk Singer to peace in the heart.
Let love of the singing never depart.

CREDIT: http://ffffound.com/home/jfinley/found/?offset=475&

https://www.google.ca/search?q=images+3c13276v.jpg&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=Y7Ds4CRcSAriBM%253A%253Ba0qRl_uCKV8pAM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fffffound.com%25252Fhome%25252Fjfinley%25252Ffound%25252F%25253Foffset%2525253D475%25252526&source=iu&pf=m&fir=Y7Ds4CRcSAriBM%253A%252Ca0qRl_uCKV8pAM%252C_&usg=__jxpzvZn6p1X093kr53HsDG-Tsw0%3D&biw=1173&bih=553&ved=0ahUKEwjAvuHo8pDTAhVH3WMKHVr_DZYQyjcIKQ&ei=iMPmWMDaGce6jwPa_rewCQ#imgrc=Y7Ds4CRcSAriBM:

Posted in Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Caring, Helping, Just get along, Peace, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Great People: Home Town Heroes

 

picture for Great People: Home Town Heroes
from Charles Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit

Great People: Home Town Heroes

*from my book Chasing a Butterfly
to mark my soft launch and signing
Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
at the ACT Theatre, Maple Ridge, BC

Great People: Home Town Heroes

H. W. Bryce

Society honours its own Great People,
Its leaders, its heroes, its good-deed doers,
All for good reason, it’s a good thing to do,
They set good examples for us to do too.
But I have some heroes of equal worth,
Kind-hearted folk, the salt of the earth,
They’re plain common folk who live in our town,
And they all deserve Good Samaritan’s crown.
Like the girls in the jewellery shop in the mall,
Jewels themselves, they take her to heart.
Patient as saints they listen with care,
As my Love stutters to say what she’s brought in for repair.
Like the security folk and the cops in the car
Who find her when lost from our home and afar
And bring her back home, all safe and all sound—
To them and all such we truly are bound.
Like the hospital folk, so down to earth,
They give of their time from death to birth
And take all the time that my frail one deserves—
Such is the heart of each one who serves.
Like the folks in the street when she stops them right there,
And two of them bond, an implausible pair.
Like the house retailer who listens intent,
He shows her his listings, he’s heavenly sent!
Or the beggar who smiles and gives her a buck
And tells her now, dear, you’ll never be stuck.
My heart wants to stop, keep this moment to mine,
Bless you my friend, may your sun ever shine.
Like the heroes inside our supportive group,
They’ve all been through the wringer’s loop;
They come with experience and wisdom hard won,
And we soothe and support each other, each one.
And the nurses and aides and the folks in the manor
Who keep her there in a comfortable manner;
They’re warm-hearted, helpful and ever aware,
So She needn’t worry and I trust in their care.
These are the people of my home town,
Who help each other without a frown;
True Heroes all and deserving a hand.
May we all learn to take such a heroic stand!

CREDIT: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1371582/Top-10-Charles-Dickens-characters-chosen-Simon-Callow.html

Posted in Alzheimer's, Caring, Dementia, Memories, Poetry, Reminiscing, Tribute | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Up There

 

Silhouette picture for Up There

Up There

He’ll Liven Things Up, Up There

Inspired by the news that Chuck Berry had passed on.
And where did he pass on to?
Must be Up There, to entertain the saints
Where he’ll jam with all the other jazz masters Up There.

No offense intended, just a chance to rock and roll.
Well, I was no fan of most rock ‘n roll but Chuck Berry made my feet dance.
But what’s more, my late wife Ann loved Chuck Berry – even well into her state of Alzheimer’s.
Don’t forget the power of music to reach even the most far gone brain.
Check this out – After you read my poem below

https://www.facebook.com/search/str/alzheimer’s+-+man+responds+to+music/keywords_top

Up There

Up there
Oh he’ll liven things up, up there,
The angels will rock,
The saints will roll,
Old St. Pete he’ll do a jig
And Joshua, he will dig
When old’ Chuck Berry goes up there.
There’ll be a high time in Ole Heaven tonight!
The world below will see the light
And we the people will sing along
To join the party when it’s our time to go
Up there.

Joshua come and blow your horn
Make the walls to all fall down,
Make the prejudice melt away,
Make all hate to run far away;
Show the people how to make hay
With love, respect and dignity,
Good example and honest pride
To earn a trip, a heavenly ride.

Come, come and join our hands,
Let’s all follow Joshua’s bands,
Let’s spread the word across the lands,
There’s a party goin’ on up there.
Oh he’ll liven things up, up there,
I wanna be in that number
When he livens things up, up there,
While he livens things up, up there.

Down here
He gave us thrills aplenty while down here,
His fancy strummin’ knew no peer,
People flocked to him to hear
His happy, happy pickin’ strings,
For happy is what such guitarin’ brings –
And that was when he was in his prime
Down here.

Come, come and join our hands,
Let’s all follow Joshua’s bands,
Let’s spread the word across the lands,
There’s a party goin’ on up there.
Oh he’ll liven things up, up there,
I wanna be in that number
When he livens things up, up there,
While he livens things up, up there.

CREDIT: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RockNRollGuitarist.svg

Posted in Alzheimer's, Celebration, Dementia, Memories, Poetry, Remembrance, Reminiscing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wasn’t It A Party?

 

Picture for Celebrating Ann

WASN’T IT A PARTY?

A lighthearted take on the Irish Rovers’ song
as a lookback to our Celebration of Life
For my late wife Ann.
With my thanks to all who partied.
Wasn’t it party?

Wellllll….
Wasn’t it a party? Could’ve been the cold cuts, might have been the speech,
Could have been the company,
I don’t know, but look at the great shape that we’re in,
My head is swollen from the compliments, my hands from the shakes,
Tell me, me oh me oh my,
Wasn’t it a party?

People talked to each other, strangers even met,
Folks all signed in to the mem’ry book,
People thought they were taking pot luck for a chance,
But they all brough food for the pot luck instead.
Oh me, oh me oh me oh my,
Wan’t it a party?

Could’ve been the cold cuts, might have been the speech,
Could have been the company,
I don’t know, but what great shape we’re in.
The afterglow is pleasant, let’s do it all again.
What a great little lady, worth the celebrating,
And what a lovely song the troubadour did sing!

Coulda been so somber,
Coulda cried instead,
Coulda weasled out,
But we all of us went,
Ever so glad we did
Cause me oh me oh my,
Wasn’t it a party?

–H. W. Bryce

Picture Remembering Ann for Wasn't That a Party?

In Tribute to Ann Bryce, fifty years together
and her twenty years a cadet founder and leader.

CREDITS: Top collage by cousin Florence Manz, photo by Lozan Yamolky;
Bottom photo contributed by Pam Audley.

#hwbrycewrites.com

Posted in Alzheimer's, Caring, Friendship, Loss, Love, Memories, Poetry, Remembering, Reminiscing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Don’t Owe Me

 

You Don’t Owe Me

We lived, we loved, perhaps too hard…
But now we part, I hold the card.
You think that you have hurt my heart.
But you don’t owe me.

I’ve only done my little part,
You’ve only listened to your heart,
You say how grateful that you are,
But you don’t owe me.

I held your hand through all your hurt,
I helped you heal from all the dirt,
I was always there for you my dear,
But you don’t owe me.

I saw you through when you were ill,
I was the one who paid the bill,
I took you home and tucked you in,
But you don’t owe me.

We lived, we loved, perhaps too hard,
We honoured life, we loved the bard,
I played the loving card for you,
But you don’t owe me.

You’ve always followed your own heart,
And I was faithful from the start,
You swore to me we’d never part,
But you don’t owe me.

And we went out and danced the dance,
And we lived the life, took the chance.Sunset picture for blog You Don't Owe Me
You say you’re grateful for all that,
But you don’t owe me.

And now the time is for goodbye,
It’s no fault of yours that you die,
But don’t you worry my sweetheart,
No, you don’t owe me.

Yes,
We lived and love, perhaps too hard,
We both played the lover’s card,
Both our hearts were overcharged,
And no regrets, we lived life large.

There’s no need for sorry, dear,
All is well between us now,
You can forget all your fear,
All is well between us now.

You don’t owe me anything!
I did what I did for love,
I don’t ask for anything,
You paid me in full with love.

Life is not a buy and sell,
Nor a favour asked, a favour done;
Life is just a love affair
And no, my dear, you don’t owe me.

–H. W. Bryce
— — — — —
Remember Me

Forget me not, for I’m still here–One red rose for blog You don't Owe Me
Please don’t fear for me;

But remember me, remember us–
Please don’t make a fuss.

We had good times, remember them–
Remember me, remember us.

So plant a flower, a forget-me-not–
Carry me in your heart.
Remember now…forget me not.

Note: “Remember Me” is from my book “Chasing a Butterfly,”
You can’t order “Chasing a Butterfly” here:

Chasing a Butterfly

by H W Bryce

OR here: http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000015361954/H.-W.-Bryce-Chasing-a-Butterfly
— — —

CREDITS:
Seagull pic:  https://www.pinterest.com/lauracunhavaz/trabalho-ev-gatos-e-gaivotas/
Sunset: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/336644140874032839/
R
ose Picture: http://www.playbuzz.com/patrick14/the-ultimate-robert-burns-quiz

Posted in Alzheimer's, Caring, Love, Memory, Owing, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

 

Peace picture for just get along

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Just Get Along: from my notebook-in response to yet more outbreaks of violence and death
-e.g., the (Texas) riots over yet another cop killing of a black man?
Here’s what I wrote:

Just Get Along?

It’s déjà vu all over again!
Shootings, more beheadings
And riots in the streets.

Will they NEVER learn?
When will they ever learn?
Why can’t love just catch on?

Hatred, violence and death—
Where does it all come from?
Repeat, repeat is craziness,
Fist and spit and cities burn.

Will they NEVER learn?
When will we ever learn?
Why can’t love just catch on?

Politicians notwithstanding,
Orators spewing logic, plead for peace
As actions speak louder than their words…

Will they NEVER learn?
Why can’t we ever learn?
Why can’t love just catch on?

Anguished faces smeared with tears,
Blood running down their shirts,
Compassioned fellows carry wounded—
Both sides feeling righteousness.

How can we teach folk how to learn?
Why can’t we ever learn?
Why can’t we all just get along?

Why don’t we ever learn?
Why must the whole world burn?
Why can’t we all just turn?
Why can’t love just catch on?

Why can’t we all just get along?
Why can’t we sing a peaceful song?
Why can’t we recognize what’s wrong?
Why can’t we just become that strong?

We must teach our children better;
We should just write a love letter,
Confess our fault and do better—
Be a doer, not a setter.

For sure we know the golden rule,
Follow it and life’s a jewel.
Break the rule and we’re a fool,
Are we Dissent’s or Peace’s tool?

Why can’t we all just get along?
Why can’t we sing a peaceful song?
Why can’t we recognize what’s wrong?
Why can’t we just become that strong?

CREDIT: https://pixabay.com/en/peace-graffiti-street-art-art-529380/
 CC0 Public Domain  Free for commercial use   No attribution required 

Posted in Caring, Choices, Discrimination, Just get along, Peace, Poetry, War and peace | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whiskey Jack, Whiskey Jack

 

Whiskey Jack

To The Whiskey Jack

Eight years old in northern Sask and chopping wood,
My axe is poised o’erhead to split a block,
Weasel pops his head outside the pile of wood,
I wield the axe, add kindling to the stock.

Though spring is nigh, the snow is deep, it’s cold,
Yesterday’s shinook frozen rivulets,
The garden waits for warmth and worms so bold,
Native land awaits the spring’s new minuet.

A whistle song cuts the quiet grabs my ear
Feisty, hardy, proud, Gray Jay flaps his wings
He’ll do anything for food, shows no fear
Chatty Whiskey Jack, my own first sign of Spring.

Northern bird, he’s asking us to stand up tall.
Whiskey Jack, Whiskey Jack, I heed your call.

Winter

Winter tucks you in under a pure white blanket
And you are snug and warm for months on end…
Until you have to go out. Baby it’s cold out!
And the landmarks are covered and you miss the bend
And your snowshoe falls off and there’s a cold, cold wind…

But the cupboard is bare in the winter…

The Alzheimer’s journey is somewhat like that–seemingly never ending. Just when you think this winter of heartache is near to its end, your loved one enters another stage. And when spring finally arrives, it brings more sad news. You think you’re stuck in everlasting flu.
But, like winter, there are those warm moments that you live for…

And summer is coming…

SPRING

The flowers will grow again
Warm breezes will blow again
And you will smile again
Come what may
You will find yourself again
Get to know yourself again
You will wake from this nightmare
You will slough off the scare
Yes, you will love again
Love again, laugh again
And life will be easy to bear
Come what may
You have done well
You have served well
You have learned well
And you will smile
Come what may

The Whisky Jack – Canada’s official bird, the Grey Jay – was my first sign of spring when I was a child in the north. What is yours? The robin? Snow drops? Catkins? A skein of geese?

CREDIT: Photo by miguel de la bastide – 
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Jay/sounds  The Cornell Lab of Otnithology 

 

 

Posted in Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Hope, Memories, Poetry, Spring | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment