Stand Up Stand Up

Posted on March 13, 2017 by admin

 

picture for stand Up, Stand Up

Stand Up, Stand Up:

You Are Strong

Stand up, stand up for the poor,
The disenfranchised and the ableless,
Stand up for the homeless,
Never turn them from your door.

Stand up, stand up for what is right,
Fight within the moral laws;
Fight for justice, fight for cause,
Fight for right with all your might.

Stand up, stand up for dignity,
See to the comfort of the ill,
When there’s a fault, set it right,
Stand up for all humanity.

Stand up, stand up for those in need,
Be it for the body or the psyche;
Be the moral compass when need be,
Set the tone and live the creed.

When a he or a she can no longer act
In defence of their defenceless self,
Act in their defence and in their stead,
Step in, step in, advocate with tact.

Who Will Advocate?

That someone should be you, you’re the one who
Knows how to protect their interests the best.
In the case of a loved one, who else should it be
But you, who can advocate with zest?

You may not have considered taking such a role,
You may not have considered it at all,
But when misfortune calls and exacts its toll,
Who else is there willing to carry the ball?

Reluctant you may be, but duty makes the call,
And you must arm yourself to face the brink.
Know this, my advocating friend, you are strong,
Much, much stronger than ever you might think.

–H. W. Bryce

Clip art: defence counsel https://www.google.ca/search?q=advogado-1.jpg&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0rOvAx9HSAhVJilQKHX1YAu8QsAQIGQ&biw=1195&bih=562#imgrc=g_yKguFJ8zoaDM:

 

Posted in Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Caring, Justice, Poetry, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You, Advocate: You are your loved one’s advocate

Posted on March 10, 2017 by admin

 

picture, defence counsel, for You, Advocate

You, Advocate:

You Are Your Loved One’s Advocate

HB

You are your loved one’s Advocate.
Who else will stand up for him?
You know his heart very well,
His habits, his mores, his needs,
And it’s fight! Fight! FIGHT!
For his spirit, his strength and his pleads.
Now that he’s weakened and lost,
It is you who must, at all costs,
Protect his dignity and rights,
And save him from bad deeds
And neglect and abuse.

You are your loved one’s advocate.
Be that a man or a woman or a child;
The fight might turn wild
But you must be mild
And considered in fighting the fight,
For to argue and shout is definitely out
If you are to win any bout for your charge.

You are your loved one’s advocate
When your loved one can’t speak for himself.
When he’s in need it’s you who must heed
The call to duty to act.
You must learn all the ropes
To know how to protect his hopes
And fulfill all of his basic needs.
And who else is there but you?
You are your loved one’s advocate.
–
Be the eye of the storm,
vicious in your client’s defence,
the lightning bolt of ideas and arguments.
Be the wind that carries the day
and sweep caring and sharing into our hearts
to build a better day. You can always find a way.

http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/an-auto-accident-lawyer-6593206

Clipart Info:  defence counsel – Use this image on your Powerpoints, School Projects, Reports and More!

Posted in Advocate, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Dementia, Helping, Helpless, Homeless, Justice, Poetry, Service | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Golden Years in Winter

Posted on March 6, 2017 by admin

picture for Golden Years in Winter

Today’s Guest Blog is from Jean Vachon, up north,
where winter is.

My friend Jean says: Here is what I do when I get bored!
Not too serious, just my silly humor.
We do go dancing every Sunday to keep us going,
and meet friends for coffee twice a week.

[And, of course, life up there is so full and so busy that
it’s a wonder she had time to put pen to paper.
–Thanks Jean.]

 

Winter At The Vachons

Winter’s upon us, it’s freezing outside.
We feel sort of house bound, we’re fit to be tied.
We get up each morning, at the crack of eight.
I better get breakfast, We must not be late.
Out to the shop there is scrolling to be done,
back in an hour, that wasn’t much fun.
Now for a snooze, it’s not even mid day,
time’s slowly ticking the hours away.
It’s lunch time, I said with a sigh.
what will we have? Oh a small bowl of soup,
and a big piece of pie!
Time for some Tellie, and more snoozing of course,
after watching Dr. Pol castrating a horse.
Supper is ready, and it’s piping hot, it’s nothing special,
not what he thought.
Now is high time to open your eyes, Donald Trump’s on the news,
Oh what a supersize!
Even more zees, before watching a show,
nine o clock is late, that’s bed time you know.
I hope we won’t dream, it can be such a fright!,
It makes for a terrible, and, awful long night.
Morning comes early, What can I say….
It’s time for another … exciting day!

 Golden Years for Winter and Golden Years

My Version Of The Golden Years.

My eyes are slowly failing,
next are my ears.
“Welcome” they say, to The Golden Years!
My tummy is rumbling,I hope it will pass,
I may get relief, by passing some gas.
The night light burns bright, so I can see,
I’ll be up half the night, I drank too much tea.
The old brain is foggy, it gets me in a tizzy,
Can I move or even walk, without feeling dizzy.
Sometimes my back aches, but oh what the heck,
I’m an antique you know, not some old train wreck.
All that being said, I still have a chance,
I’ll take what I’ve got, see you all at the dance.
My family and friends, make me feel so much better,
a phone call from them, or even a letter.
a visit with you, or a coffee with me,
let’s keep in touch, I’ll be happy you see.
there will be some laughter, and even some tears,
so let’s make the best, of our ” Golden Years”
–J. V.

Credits: Top cartoon via Clip Art, http://www.fitforexpecting.com/2014/01/02/moms-too-tired-to-exercise/
Bottom cartoon via Clip Art, https://www.google.ca/search?q=microsleepmonday.png&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=580&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyoZzDncLSAhVT02MKHUwmCYwQsAQIGw&dpr=1.1#imgrc=4GMXGD6TiKlAQM:

Posted in Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Dementia, Humor, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Thousand Pieces – Part Three

Posted on March 3, 2017 by admin

 

A Thousand Pieces photo

A Thousand Pieces – Part Three

GUEST BLOG

By Arden Nering

Parts are breaking down and refusing to go
The gas is getting old and the oil’s running low
We try to do all the things that we can think to do
No one is really sure if this is for us or for you
The will to try has left you and try to find it as we might
It seems that death by a thousand pieces has made off with your fight
I stand behind you and encourage you to try just one more time
When am I supposed to grieve, where is the line

Letting go is never easy, how can I leave you in this place
How to surrender to the truth of it and not leave my soul disgraced
Faces blur together so I tell you who I am
I tell you stories from the past to try to help you understand
I tell you jokes to give you something, a smile, a laugh, some cheer
But I know this is so hollow, I would not want to be here
When I have to leave you I whisper that you are a love of mine
When am I supposed to grieve, where is the line

The fabric’s growing threadbare, the pattern’s fading from our view
Somewhere underneath is the shrinking form of you
It seemed that you no longer have anything to say
The sound of your voice was the next piece taken away
The light in your eyes and the smile was almost the last thing to go
These little things revealing the true essence of your soul
I tried to stay beside you, a companion at the end
This is not the time to grieve, hold it together then

All truth be told there are very few who would disagree
That passing peacefully in bed is the best form of mercy
Better still to be in the arms of your love true
Bittersweet release both for us and for you
To the end of the path we’ll take you, your journey at an end
For all the gifts you gave me I would do it all again
Now I am without you, I look back and I find
Death by a thousand pieces, I’ve been grieving all this time

–For my Dad, Allan James Gillis Aug 20th, 1932 – Dec 25th, 2015
–Arden Nering

This says it all, so I will delay my next Advocate poem until next time.
My sincere thanks to Arden Nering for this Guest Blog, and to my
sister Ruth for sharing it.

Credit: My best friend in wheelchair at window – 2016-01-15 by H. W. Bryce

Posted in Advocacy, Grief, Grieving, Love, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Thousand Pieces: Part Two

Posted on February 27, 2017 by admin

 

picture for A Thousand Pieces

A Thousand Pieces:Part Two

By Arden Nering

Scratches on the record putting skips into your song
Fleeting thoughts escaping, almost here before they’re gone
The shrinking of your universe, interests no longer claim that name
Too much to remember all the rules in the game
The conversation flow around you but seem to pass you by
Too much to participate so you just close your eyes
I try to light the path to make it easier to find
When am I supposed to grieve, where is the line

Connections lost and found again, a system on the fritz
Basic independence lost in tiny little bits
Dignities plucked painfully one at a time
You bear this all so gracefully or so it seems from the outside
I watch from the shadow as you flicker on the screen
Death by a thousand pieces is malicious and mean
Bu when luck is my companion I am there to see you shine
So when am I supposed to grieve, where is the line

A kaleidoscope of moments from memories then shift
Past and present strewn together on the sea adrift
Different answers to your questions, asked and asked once more
The truth is not across the street so please let’s close the door
You wonder who I am and why I’m dong this to you
You’re only going home you say and that’s what you intend to do
I tried to hold the weight of it, to leave my hurts aside
When am I supposed to grieve, where is the line

—

Those with Alzhheimer’s in the family, especially the care givers, will know and relate to every step recorded in this remarkable poem. Those friends and relatives who don’t or can’t, should learn to. Care giving can be such a thankless task. Please be understanding.

— —

Being Advocate

Being advocate is an honourable thing,.
It’s an honest and worthy calling
So it’s all that you’ve got that you bring
When a life needs a good overhauling.

It’s assessing the facts, calling the score,
Dealing with hardships, taking the horn,
Being the umpire, opening the door,
Fixing injustice so fairness is born.

Being advocate takes a lot of know-how,
It’s being your strongest for your charge,
It’s standing up for what is right , no bow,
So that freedom from oppression can enlarge.

–H. W. Bryce

CREDIT: http://wladothealphachicken.deviantart.com/

 

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Guest Blog plus I, Advocate

Posted on February 24, 2017 by admin

 

Guest Blog by Arden Nering

A Thousand Pieces

At first I didn’t notice that you’d already started to go
I thought it was just normal, your age starting to show
A second here, a moment there, a blurring of the view
Times when you just didn’t seem to be the one we knew
Worried whispers in the background, confusion and denial
A slow loss of confidence began to show behind your smile
And when we looked for answers to see what we might do,
We learned that death by a thousand pieces was what had come for you
This wasn’t my journey, it wasn’t the right time
When I was supposed to grieve, where was the line

A signal interrupted, a glitch in the machine
Cracks in your foundation so much deeper than they’d seemed
It atarted with your freedom, a clipping of your wings
And trying to convince you there were reasons for these things
No longer being trusted to do the things you always did
To suffer being supervised just like you were a kid
I tried to walk beside you so it wasn’t the right time
When I was supposed to grieve, where was the line

-for my Dad, Allan James Gillis Aug 20th, 1932 – Dec 25th, 2015

Note: these are the first two verses of nine detailing the loss,
stage by Azheimer’s stage. A Thousand Pieces. The approach unseen:
a common experience (or lack thereof?). Punctuation as I received
the piece.

Want more? See Leave a comment, at the bottom…

I Advocate

H. W. Bryce

I am advocate, I will stand with you,
Whatever it takes, that’s what I will do.

I will not judge you, no matter the stands,
Your case will be safe in my capable hands.

When you are weak, I will prop you up,
When you’re forlorn I will fill your cup.

I will find some way to solve your case,
I will make beaurocracy cut to the chase.

I will work without cease on your behalf,
I will ease your burden, I’ll be your staff.

I am advocate, I will partner with you,
Together we’ll fight to prove things true.

Whatever you need to help you to heal,
My word is my bond, my handshake my deal.

— —

CREDIT: Photo by H. W. Bryce

 

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The Pendulum Swings

Posted on February 20, 2017 by admin

 

The-pendulum-swings

The Pendulum Swings

Do not let the pendulum strike you
As you rush to the nearest fad,
The pendulum swings and it will smack you
As it swoops on its backward swing.
Stand firm, defend the differences,
Enjoy the beauty in each,
Do not be a gad.

Each hour has its gifts
While style and form do change
As with your clothes,
Each ticks true to the norm,
Each clock holds true to
Standards
Both can live in the same room…..

So,
Do not ride the pendulum,
Do not exclude the past,
The clock holds the standard
And the fads change all too fast.
The pendulum swings,
The pendulum swings.

[the pendulum swings over to rhyme
[the pendulum swings back to free
[the pendulum hovers over blank
[and it trips all over its metric feet
[it swings to iambic, it swings to rhyme
[every poet is a product of his time…]

So stop the pendulum’s rhythmic swinging,
Keep your own time but dance to other tunes,
Find your own path, be it forests or dunes,
March to your drummer, you don’t have to be ‘winging’.

Choices

Each one a fad, each leaves the others behind;
Alas what loss; how much more enriched
The pantheon of poets when all can take to the stage
Together, to present a concert of voices,
Rhythms and tones, a richness of choices.

If you stay with one fad too long
You’ll soon be outdated
And your friends who’ve moved on
Will wave you g’bye with a cheery “so long”

Fads have a definition and that is short term,
They come and they go like many a germ,
And while some of them come for a quick return,
It’s usually to others, and they quickly burn.

In fact, poetry, too, has its faddish aspect,
Ye olden dayes’ poets set up some fine rules,
Then others came by and broke all of their rules,
And so no rhymes and no reason and no respect.

So don’t jump on a fad
And don’t stick with it
Join if for fun
And learn what is bad
Keep what is good
And move on with that
But always and ever
Keep your compass
Near by
You’re gonna need it
When you try to fly

The pendulum swings,
The pendulum sings,
The pendulum’s rhythm
Seduces with charism,
The pendulum swings,
The pendulum swings.

—
And so do these verses.

AND, that goes for people too, not just poets. The pendulum definitely swings in life, especially for family care givers and their charges. Fads not included. But that’s a different story. Today is for time off.

CREDIT: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Pendulum-573175404

 

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