David Meade Poet I do not know?

Notes About The Poem

 

I had an opportunity work with a man dying of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  This is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.  This poem is in memory of him!

 

ddm

Dancing In the Rain -- Als

Sitting in a house . . . a home
Across from a husband and a wife

I look at her
Saddens fills the orbs of her dark eyes
Her breathing short . . . shallow inhalations
Panic and fear waiting to pounce
My heart pleads for her . . . be strong

I look at him
His eyes bright . . . projecting confidence, love
Strapped into his wheelchair 
This once mighty man 
Is trapped in a body that betrayed him

I close my computer
Finished . . . dreams shared
Hope and desires expressed
A way forward captured
Time for me to go . . .

But the questions remain
Life . . .    Death . . .   Why?
Why him?  
His family?
Why?

I hear strokes on a keyboard
A mechanical voice vibrates from small speakers
“May I pray?”
This broken man is not done
I close my eyes feeling the moisture leaking out

“Greet each day with a smile”
“Dance in the rain” 
“Embrace love and rejoice”
“Be strong and fear not”
“There is victory over death”
“Life . . . Eternal life!”

This broken man with the unbroken spirit
Is ministering to me, to his family
Dying but still concerned for the living
What an incredible love, a powerful faith
Living and dying well

Listening to his typing, I realize . . . 
I have no power over the eternal questions
Of life . . .  of death . . . 
But God does
This limitation of my humanity is NOT
So I can wallow in despair – NO!
But so I can hope in God!

Thank-you my dear friend
I will never forget you
Your words of hope and love
Your faith
Dancing in the rain.


Note:  My friend died six months after this meeting.




David Meade
Love Generously
June 13, 2015

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Robert Lindley December 4, 2015 at 10:09 PM Very glad to read this poem tonight.You did a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the poem.... A7 A dark abyss seals its hold, where light once brightly did gleam I pray for that which can not be sold my toes touching in a cool stream.

Cecilia Macfarlane November 15, 2015 at 9:12 PM A heartfelt, touching write. Sorry for your loss David....hope you are living by his words. Hugs

Constance La France October 27, 2015 at 8:52 PM David, what a moving write you have penned, so sad yet full of strength, wonderful 7 ~ David Meade October 27, 2015 at 9:45 PM Thank-you Broken Wings! You made my night, thank-you for stopping by and commenting. You are the music of the night!

Probir Gupta October 15, 2015 at 10:53 AM Having read the poem, I felt myself at the computer in place of the poet. They are perhaps successful poets who send out their birds to their readers who greet them through their windows into their room and start believing that the birds were theirs. As for the poet’s wise friend, he is the representative guide for all of us in our inevitable progress toward the apparently untoward end. Blessed was he no doubt. A profound poem indeed. Thanks to Poetry Soup for engaging my attention. David Meade October 15, 2015 at 12:08 PM Thank-you for your kind and gracious words. I look forward to reading your works. All the best.

Shirley Rebstock October 14, 2015 at 10:39 PM My favorite verse in his beautiful poem starts with greet each day with a smile,dance in the rain David Meade October 15, 2015 at 12:10 PM Yes, I agree with you! So easy to get caught up in the struggles of the day and forget to enjoy the blessing of the day! May all your days be filled with dancing and laughter!! Love generously!

Elizabeth Babb October 14, 2015 at 10:48 AM Very powerful poem, David. I'm a brain cancer survivor and I say I was deeply saddened to learn that your friend lost the battle. I pray his soul is in a happier place now, free of pain. I pray for your healing, as well. David Meade October 15, 2015 at 12:13 PM Thank-you dear Elizabeth, your prayer and kinds words did indeed warm my heart! I am confident that he is dancing for joy at this very moment. It sounds like you have quite a story to tell also . . . I look forward to reading your works. I will be visiting soon. Here's to dancing in the rain to one who has faced cancer and survived!!

Cona Adams October 14, 2015 at 7:32 AM Very touching poem, David. Thank you for sharing this. David Meade October 15, 2015 at 12:14 PM Hi Cona, Thank-you for your visit. It has been awhile but I will visit you soon. All the best and keep on dancing.

Andrea Dietrich October 13, 2015 at 9:29 PM David. hope you come back really soon. Miss you!

John Lofquist October 13, 2015 at 7:13 PM Wonderful tribute. It's tough to lose a good friend let alone a family member. I liked this very much. David Meade October 13, 2015 at 9:56 PM Hi John, thank-you for your kind words. I look forward to reading your works.

Charmaine Chircop September 30, 2015 at 3:06 PM Oh David this touched me so deep. Awhile ago I did lots of blood tests cuz they were thinking I had fibromyalgia (als sister illness) .I was terrified and so in pain..Tnks God it was a thyroid roblem which can mimick fibromyalgia/me/als etc. I can understand your present emotion..Im sure he is in a better place for sure.Misted my eyes. Missed your poems .

Nette Onclaud September 19, 2015 at 4:00 AM dramatically and soulfully done, david... how have you been?.. huggs

Kp Nunez September 18, 2015 at 10:44 PM lol! YOU are not! We have a saying here - Only carabaos grow old...hahaha. You know who the Old one I was referring to... :-)

Kp Nunez September 18, 2015 at 7:22 PM Hello David. I saw you online and I am reminded of a contest with the theme Inside My Mind- for Old. This poem came to mind, which proves that being old need not mean just physical weakness; it means wisdom, as ably illustrated in this write. Have I thanked you for this? I thank you now, as I have been remiss before. Still waiting for your new writes. hugs! David Meade September 18, 2015 at 9:30 PM Thank-you sweet Kim for your kind words. You are correct, I am old -- the wise part -- not so sure! Full of folly and fun!

Andrea Dietrich September 7, 2015 at 2:42 AM Keep coming back to this one. It's still AMAZING! thanks for seeing my poem tonight.

Phatt Matt September 6, 2015 at 3:49 PM SORRY ABOUT YOUR FRIEND... MATT

Andrea Dietrich August 17, 2015 at 3:56 PM Hey I sure hope you got SAFE And SOUND off that long black train. Oops, looks like I saw this one already. Let me search around a bit!

Matthew Anish August 16, 2015 at 10:48 PM Nice tribute to faith here! Peace & Blessings Matthew Anish

Arthur Vaso August 16, 2015 at 10:45 PM Was hard to get though this in 1 shot, very touching. A7

Robert Lindley August 16, 2015 at 10:43 PM A solid gem, one that teaches so very much. Death has a doorway we all must cross. A7 and adding this jewel to my fav list. Thanks..

Richard Lamoureux July 19, 2015 at 8:44 AM This is a special piece heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Thanks for sharing his prayer and for showing us that death is merely a gateway to more than we are capable of imagining.

Jan Allison July 15, 2015 at 5:08 PM Such a lovely tribute David I found this so touching and so inspiring too:-) hugs Jan xx7

Harry Horsman July 15, 2015 at 5:00 AM Oh the sincerity of your words, enhanced by the sentiment of your poem, truly a masterpiece...

Demetrios Trifiatis July 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM Dear David, what a masterpiece for the fate of humanity! It touches the core of everyone's heart in the degree each one of us has been through similar situations! My friend, no matter how painful death is, he is God's doing so who can doubt its necessity? For thirty-five years have I been consoling families who have lost loved ones, especially mothers who have lost their children. My conclusion? "Death is a celestial pillow upon which the soul rests for a while dreaming of the life to come".

Eve Roper July 14, 2015 at 9:25 AM Very heartfelt poem in remembrance of your friend. Friends are so dear to us that when we lose them it is sometimes hard to bare. Hugs dear friend Eve

Paul Callus July 13, 2015 at 3:55 PM Very touching and inspiring, David! We have a lot to learn from a 'broken man with an unbroken spirit'! #7 // paul

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