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Lee Ramage Poem
I light my candle from within the more I give to you,
An inner strength builds inside, it fills my empty soul,
The encompassing love present when my life was askew,
Needing a reason to get up every morning was my goal,
Volunteering at hospice gave me more, filling a gapping hole.
Written by Lee Ramage
September 18, 2011
Contest by Paula Swanson
“By Candle Light”
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
I check my rear view mirror,
Is it safe to change my lane,
Side mirrors checked but its not clear,
Everything’s fogged by pouring rain.
I make my move and extreme pain,
Airbags explode streams of light,
Trails of yellow fire in my brain,
Sirens reel in the dark night.
Written by Lee Ramage
July 29, 2011
For Nette Onclaud’s “Hutain this One” contest
Won 6th place
Dedicated to my sister-in-law who just
had a near fatal accident.
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
My Dad, a pretty ordinary man,
Suddenly taken by a heart attack.
People are offering all that they can,
Cakes and hot casseroles we do not lack,
Hard to believe the whole town has our back.
Their kindness seems to be never ending
The new normal of mine just keeps bending,
Focus seems to be on us completely,
Thoughtfulness and support, all are sending,
Comments of sympathy made so sweetly.
Sorry for your loss, just how old was he,
Using this information did matter.
I reply he was almost eighty-three,
The mood changes, I hear idle chatter.
Suddenly I feel a great deal sadder,
Death is simply another part of life,
You should be grateful and not feel such strife.
He was old, did not suffer, I was told,
My heart bleeds after the cut by this knife.
Judging approval of death by age --- cold.
Written July 27, 2012
For Cyndi MacMillan’s contest
“Do You Understand”
Won 3rd place
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2012
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Lee Ramage Poem
Back rubs are given, pills have been handed out,
Patients settled, some won’t sleep, I have no doubt,
Fear paralyzing their being when darkness falls,
If they close their eyes, will night terrors sprout.
Night lights shed a little peace over their bed,
The medication eases the pain or so they’ve said,
Someone to sit by their side would ease the fear,
They worry, wanting to awake, not ending up dead.
For they know that death will come, it’s not far off,
They work to breathe, chest heavy, the rattled cough,
Sunlight drifts in the window, another day, more life,
Eyes slowly open, blackness gone, at death they scoff.
Written September 23, 2012
For Craig Cornish’s contest
“Night-Dark-Black-Happy-Sad”
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2012
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Lee Ramage Poem
Sleeping in your crib, you were curled onto your side,
A thumb inside your mouth, a blanket cuddled in your arm.
Only 18 months old, your baby blue eyes so beautiful,
How could anyone bruise you this way, your innocence lost,
Who was it who hurt you like this, if only you could talk.
You take a bottle from me and nuzzle into my grasp,
I want to protect you from any more harm and pain,
All I can do right now, is love and care for you with all I have,
And give your medications that will make you strong again.
So I kiss you good night and place you back in your crib,
May your night be filled with good fairies and sweet dreams.
Then Social Services will take you away when you are well,
I only hope and pray that you will be safe now forever more.
**A true story from my Nursing career working in Pediatrics.
Written by Lee Ramage
September 19, 2011
For Debbie Guzzi’s contest
“Children”
Won 8th place
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
The Dew Ball
Early in the morning I rise and make a cup of tea,
The windows are covered with dew, nothing I can see.
I step onto my deck to let my dog have a run outside,
There’s a gallery of art exhibits awaiting for me to imbibe.
Spiderwebs painted with dew dressed in shimmering glass,
Droplets glisten on petals, at this moment beauty is on mass.
Water hangs tenuously from the tips of cacti standing tall,
Harmony of colour serenades my soul, it’s my morning dew ball,
Within a short time my ball starts to disappear from sight,
The sun rises higher and the yard slowly loses it’s delight.
Like Cinderella and her glass slipper, only a few traces remain,
I close my door, retreat inside, if lucky tomorrow I’ll see the same.
September 10, 2011
For Paula Swanson’s Contest
“How Due You Dew”
Won 5th Place
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
Treasures from my Past
In preparing for the yard sale, I gather all my junk,
I wade through the mass of items from decades before
From furniture to dishes that have sat down in my basement
And I realize that my past will be pushed outside my door.
I pick up a box of Royal Albert dishes from a dusty cardboard box,
Carefully removing the yellowed newspaper that wrap each plate,
Displaying the majestic burgundy strip with 24k gold filigree,
Rediscovering those joyful feelings that seem to calm and sedate.
Long before the death of my parents and my only aunt,
These plates graced the dining room table at all family celebrations.
Oh the food, the smells, the faces and the happy times,
These plates bring back all the best and warmest sensations.
With so many items to keep, each item with its own meaning,
The Royal Albert plates unpacked, finally get moved outside at last,
To ease my mind I think about the happiness that they can bring,
More happy memories for others, can be made from these plates of my past.
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
They stand tall like a monument, the wayfarer’s journey guide
Rough stones shaped into human form, the meaning to unhide,
Inuits first carefully piled these stones, the meaning becomes clear,
Traditionally “you are on the right path” or “someone was here”.
These unworked stones were used for survival and a method to communicate,
Mountain passages or an open channel, the stone placement was your fate.
A cache of food was near an Inukshuk without arms or one with anthers attached,
For the lost hunter in the Arctic, their beckoning and comfort was unmatched.
These rocks are used for navigation, the right direction to select,
They can also signify a memorial, a quiet place of respect,
Or mark where the spirits abide or where the fish can be found,
Think- the amount of information provided, without uttering a sound.
Winter 2010, in Vancouver, it became the official Olympic mascot,
“In the likeness of a human” is the modern meaning, now it’s thought.
I am no expert on these stones but driving northward, I keep a watchful look,
And respect the stone monument there to welcome you, the Inuit Inukshuk
Written July 30, 2011
For “Stoned Contest”
Sponsor Catie Lindsey
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
With the death of my parents something changed inside,
Its a secret very deep that I’ve tried so hard to hide,
I keep busy working but admit I often have denied,
There’s not a day go by that I don’t think of suicide.
Then I look at my children and become filled with pride,
To see my son graduate, my daughter become a bride,
Would be part of life so important, it could not be denied.
And spending these milestones without me to preside,
Would make my family feel like a big part of them died.
So I keep the sleeping pills hidden and the act untried,
Averting the sad thoughts, putting a smile on the outside.
Breathe easy, this secret is not a true story, that’s the upside.
Written by Lee Ramage
August 30, 2011
For Shani Fassbender’s Contest
“Tell Me a Secret”
Placement: First place
** According to the World Health Organization someone around the globe commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds. WHO website 2009
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2011
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Lee Ramage Poem
We are friendly sort of people, greeting and asking how you are,
One great nation, two languages, the distance between coasts far,
Travel to Quebec or to some areas in provinces east and west,
You may be asked in French “Comment ca va” with typical zest,
“Comment allez-vous” is the same traditional question in France,
Written, the French-Canadian version requires only a quick glance,
“Je vais bien merci et vous” is commonly what you would like to hear,
But there are so many responses, and certainly some will not endear.
Don’t want to make a “faux-pas” but this language we all use,
Watch a “film noir” with a “femme fatale”, you just can’t snooze.
We experience “deja vu”, live in “cul de sacs” , could it be merrier,
Even my big fat bum has a nicer name, its my delicate “derriere”.
Such a sexy language, the words always seem to sound so good,
Saying goodbye, I would prefer “Au revoir” it seems to fit the mood.
Isn’t food offered “a la carte” seem nicer than just listed on the menu,
I would much prefer “au jus” but sometimes gravy will just have to do.
Bread, a“baguette et croissant avec fromage est tres magnifique”
Foods in french; “creme brulee, crepes” anything “au gratin” - I seek.
Breakfast without “omelettes” or dinners without an “entree” I’d miss,
Expressing our most passionate behaviour, includes the French kiss.
You must admit that French seems to be part of our everything,
Just hearing some of those words, just makes my heart sing.
To be called “Cherie Amour” is just so romantic, as you must see,
Unfortunately I’m only fluent in English, just too bad, “C’est la vie”.
**French words/phrases-
*Un Petit Peu- a small amount
*Comment ca va- how are you and *Comment allez-vous- how are you
*Je vais bien merci and vous- I am fine thanks and you
*faux-pas- false step
*film noir- dark themed films
*femme fatale- female who is deadly
*deja vu- already experienced, been here before
*cul de sac- dead end street, often a circle
*au revoir- goodbye, see you later
*baguette et croissant avec fromage est tres magnifique- long narrow loaf of bread, and a crescent-shaped flaky roll with cheese is very magnificent.
*C’est la vie- that’s life.
Copyright © Lee Ramage | Year Posted 2012
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