Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Inside the Old People's Home

I was compelled to write the following poem after visiting the residential care home last week.



Inside the Old People’s Home

Around the room they sit
Chairs forming a boundary
Around the sacred centre of the room

Around the room they sit and stare
Across the void they cannot see
Visions stay in their mind

Around the room they sit
Waiting around the room
Around the room

Around the room
Chairs are static to the walls
Bodies are static to the chairs

Around the room
Pushed to the walls
The sacred centre fills the space

Simone Whipp 15 June 2016 ©

6 comments:

  1. What a very written but very sad poem.
    V x

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  2. Very powerful and moving, Simone. Your visit obviously affected you deeply:)

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  3. These homes can be as bleak as you describe in your poem, Simone, but many are not. Please read my latest blog post to see how I am involved in this subject. I think your poem is beautiful. Sadly, many residents have memory problems and no one to visit them, but I am hoping to be a frequent visitor when my sister becomes one of these residents. You are an excellent writer. xx

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  4. This is a wonderful poem thank you for sharing with your readers.
    I run the SIBOL project and since January 2010 we have donated 1258 Sunshine Blankets to residents in care homes. If any of your readers would like to pop over to our website please do. Donations of blankets knitted or crocheted would be very much welcomed as they are a great deal of comfort. Many as you say sit for hours alone and it's so nice for them to know that someone has been thinking of them.

    www.sunshineinternationalblanketsoflove.blogspot.com
    I hope you don't mind mentioning out work thank you sue

    Sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

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  5. I have visited many of these homes...and this resonates with me. This touched me deeply.

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  6. Your experience visiting the care home obviously meant a lot to you and it is clever how you put your feelings into a thoughtful poem, Simone. You are such a creative person.
    Helen xox

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