Poems

By my family

My Mum

You cared for me when I was a babe

Then as a toddler when I misbehaved

You helped me through my teenage years

And helped me through all my fears

But I too, am now a Mum

And I can see it is not all fun

I can see it is not an easy job

And that we were a difficult mob

But when my kids look into my eyes and say ''I Love You''

I can see them as me, saying the same thing to you!!

I'm glad mum that I've belonged to you

And I say from my heart ''I Love You''

Joanne Richards; 2006

Tonk's The Next Generation

Jasper is my little boy's name

We wanted a Tonk and home he came

Not because we wanted a Red

But because he nipped our toes instead

That just made us love him more

And now it's him we all adore.

Kizzie is our Lilac girl

Who we went to see, as I said before

People say we are insane

But it was off to Devon once again.

Jasp and Kizzie, that makes a few.

But we wanted Katie a Chocolate too!

Pauline's helped us quite a lot

Showing us what to do when things get 'hot'

As it was we didn't need to intervene.

When Jasper got started he was very keen.

Now we are expecting kittens.

So mum get started on those mittens.

Dad hated cats as he once said

But now they're sleeping in his bed.

Tonk's have changed our lives and view.

If you knew them, they would change yours too!!!

Joanne Richards 04:07:1995

Party Poem

The party children wait in a line

We know we were going to have a good time

Balloons and music filled the air.

Children running and laughing everywhere.

Climbing the rope ladder like a snake

Whizzing down the slide unable to brake.

Its time to eat so find your seat

Sandwiches, crisps, pizza and the cake was neat

When you finish go and play

Five more minutes to run away

Nikita Richards 2005. Aged eight

Worry Angel

Heaven sent this angel down

To make a smile not a frown

Take away your worries too

Make grey skies turn to blue

Bringing sunshine into rain

And take away life's every pain

So when its dark she'll help you see

This angels made you worry free

Nikita Richards 2008. Aged ten

By my Friends

To The Nurses

For many a year you have trodden the wards, leaving  footprints that stand out stark.

And now on the stroke of another bright day, they stretch in a widening arc.

For back 'round the wards your trolleys you push with a smile and a word of good cheer

You go straight ahead caring little for snags keeping calm whenever you're near

Your rounds are not over, not by a long chalk and the wards they still get full up

And although it may seem quite an effort, it's still better than staying in bed

There are folks who sit in the side of the bed with envious eyes open wide

To see you swish by with your trolleys and your steady purposeful stride

You're made a good job of many full years, though you're slipped up at times 'tis true

With wards full of people relying on you, you're one of a breed all too few.

So march on you nurses and brace up your load you're many a dawn yet to face

But there's no other nurses like you on the wards and no-one can walk in your place

From a very grateful and appreciative patient......

from ''wicked 'ol '' Granny (May) Guy. 1989

A lady that made a deep and lasting impression on my life.

Kate

What do you see nurses?

What do you see?

Are you thinking

when you are looking at me

a crabbit old woman

not very wise

uncertain of habit

with far away eyes,

who dribbles her food

and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice

''I do wish you'd try''.

Who seems not to notice

the things that you do,

And forever is losing

a stocking or shoe,

Who unresisting or not

lets you do as you will

with bathing and feeding

the long day to fill

is that what you're thinking,

is that what you see?

Then open your eyes nurse,

you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am

as I sit here so still,

as I sit at your bidding

as I eat at you will.

I'm a small child of ten

with a father and mother

Brothers and sisters who

love one another,

A girl of sixteen

with wings on her feet,

Dreaming that soon now

a lover she'll meet,

A bride soon at twenty,

my heart gives a leap

Remembering the vows

I promised to keep

At twenty-five now

I have young of my own

Who need me to build

a secure happy home

A young woman of thirty

My young now grow fast

 Bound to each other

with ties that should last:

At forty my young ones

now grown will soon be gone,

But my man stays beside me

to see I don't mourn:

At fifty once more

babies play round my knee

Again we know children

that love you and me.

Dark days are upon me

my husband is dead

I look at the future

and shudder with dread

My young are all busy

rearing young of their own

And I think of the years

and the love I have known

I'm an old woman now

and nature is cruel

'Tis her jest to make

old age look like a fool.

The body it crumbles

grace and vigour depart

There now is a stone

Where once I had a heart

But inside this old carcass

a young girl still dwells

And now and again

my battered heart swells

I remember the joys

I remember the pain

And I'm loving and living

life over again

I think of the years

all too few; gone too fast

And accept the stark fact

that nothing can last

So open your eyes nurse

open and see

not a crabbit old woman

look closer - see ME.

'Kate' the writer of this poem; was unable to speak, but was occasionally seen to write. After her death, her locker was emptied and this poem was found (Highcroft Library)

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