Best Als Poems
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
His thoughts go off like bombs inside his mind,
so deafening, so poisonous, so doomed
to thrash against a dam of memories
that take him back to hopeful yesterdays.
His thoughts will shout but never make a sound,
his mind as sharp as when we was a boy.
His body, once so strong, has flickered out
like flames that reach the end of blackened wick.
His head is full of words he longs to speak,
but in this hell, he cannot move his lips.
As constant tremors steal his weathered pen,
his stranger-hands will never touch again.
He yearns to feel her porcelain petal-skin,
to count the fervent beats beneath her chest.
But she can only kiss his hollow cheek
where salty tears commingle in despair.
She sits with him and holds his withered hand.
She runs her shaking fingers through his hair.
He needs to see her soft, angelic face
until his lungs can't hold another breath.
Dedicated to those with ALS and anyone who has had to watch a loved one suffer through this terrifying disease
I'm the luckiest man on earth, Lou Gehrig had said
Two months later, the greatest Yankee was dead
Gehrig suffered from ALS, a fatal disease
He peered beyond the pain, his words a fresh breeze
A family purchased Peter Pan in the bookstore the other day…
and when it was time for them to go
I found myself smiling as I was reminded of a time…not so long ago.
Peter Pan was one of our grandson’s favorite books…
I haven’t thought about it in years…
How it was filled with pirates, adventure…with joy, laughter and tears.
It took place in a far away place…where all adults were banned…
for only children were allowed to live in Neverland.
We read how life is an awfully great adventure…about reaching for the sky.
about never growing up..and about a young boy who could fly.
It’s a story about believing…in what you say and do…
because as Peter said…if you believe hard enough…your wishes will come true.
Because who wants to grow up to find out…
wishing doesn't make every dream come true
there’s wars, cancer, Alzheimer's and ALS…just to name a few.
Family and friends who we’ve lost to them…
Who, even though we hoped that they would stay…
despite our prayers and wishes…they all have passed away.
But the book is a reminder to never stop believing..
in what we say and do
because we never know the moment…when one wish will come true.
Like some of my favorite memories…it’s visit was unplanned
of the days I use to read to my grandson…about the boy from Neverland.
Gestern/ Yesterday / Ayer
Der Schmerz meines Herzens
kennt keine Lieder,
keine Musik.
Es ist das Vergessen,
das mich schmerzt.
Es ist das Vergessen,
das mir meine Träume
und meine Wünsche raubt,
weil du gingst.
Als mein Leben verschüttet wurde
mit dem Staub des Vergessens
verlor sich der Tag in Zukunftswünschen.
Die Nebel von gestern,
noch unbekannt,
vereinen sich mit dem Universum,
so bleiben wir nicht die,
die wir einmal waren.
The pain of my heart
has no songs,
no music.
It is the forgetting
that hurts me.
It is the forgetting
what takes my desires,
because you left.
When my life was buried
by the dust of oblivion.
The day was lost in future dreams
Yesterday's fogs,
still unknown,
unite with the universe.
We 'll be never the same again
what we once were
El dolor de mi corazón
ni tiene canciones,
ni música.
Es el olvido
que me duele.
Es el olvido
que quita mis deseos,
porque te fuiste
cuando mi vida fue enterrado
por el polvo del olvido.
El día se había perdido en los sueños de futuro.
Las nieblas de ayer
aún desconocidos,
se unen con el universo.
Nunca más estaremos los cuales
lo que una vez fuimos
Please, turn the music down
And keep your voices low;
There’s a new song I’m hearing now
In a voice that’s soft and clear:
It’s the One who’s always been with me . . .
He’s walking closer now.
I’ve lost all things I’ve ever owned:
I cannot bring Him gifts
Or sing His praises now.
I have no strength to do great deeds:
I stand before Him . . . empty.
What does a Savior, such as mine,
Need of earthly things?
The whole wide universe is His.
Or what great deeds
Or songs from me
Compare to those the angels sing?
So, like a child,
I lift my emptiness
And bring Him only praise.
I lift my soul, and wait
For Him to cradle me
In His eternal, loving arms.
Shhhh . . . hush your voices;
Keep the music down.
The One who’s always been with me
Is walking closer now.
(For Jan, with the beautiful singing voice, who died of ALS at an early age.)
Sterne
Ach, ihr Sterne,
versteckt euch nicht
und schickt mir euer helles Licht.
In dunkler Einsamkeit der Nacht,
so ist es mir,
als leuchtet ihr
alleine aus der Ferne nur
für mich
(Zittau, 8. Januar 2014)
Distant Shine
Stars,
Ah, ye stars,
please do not hide
and send me your bright light.
In darkest loneliness of night
it is to me
that you are shining
from a distance
just only for me
Her love is more than a small child’s first word
My mother’s heart and love, one in a chord
She lived all my childhood dreams in adore
With wisdom and love allowed them to soar
When breakers of her life beat at the door,
she made beaches of pain instead of war
Her life taught her to value and treasure
people’s friendship, respect, this her measure
Her face reflects her life in soft wrinkles,
a path by His hand with life love sprinkles
Her wrinkles life events now in the past
She’s thankful and now wrapped in peace at last
Her husband in heaven, and we are sad
She shares the face of love, waiting for dad
-----------------------------------------------
Below the original I wrote for my mother
God se Gesig
Liefde is meer as n klein kinder woord
Liefde en my ma se hart in akoord
Sy het my kinder droome elk deurleef
en met wysheid en liefde hul laat sweef
Toe die lewens branders slaan teen haar deur
maak sy strande plaas van rotse van seer
Die lewe haar geleer om te begeer,
verhoudings met mense, diep vas in eer
Haar gesig spieel haar lewe in ploeie
Pad gestap aan Sy hand in die mooie
Plooi gebeure los sy in verlede,
dankbaar vir als toegedraai in vrede
Haar hart in die hemel maar, gelukkig,
deel sy nog God se gesig, geduldig
I bring this stone,
so smooth as ebony,
so you are not alone
and in my memory.
As it once was,
when we were family.
Your grave,
a nameless place
between some lonely birch-trees
and some fern,
without a gravestone,
without grace.
You never had a chance to turn.
My hands too stiff to wave good-bye,
my memories,
now cold as ice,
my eyes – your picture in the sky,
no chance for me to say good-bye.
No final stories
hence to tell,
I lay this stone for you
with a sad heart
and with a sigh.
----------------------------------------
Ich bring dir diesen Stein,
so glatt wie Ebenholz,
und du bist nicht allein
in meiner Erinnerung
So wie es einst mal war,
noch als Familie
Dein Grab,
nur namenlose Stätte
zwischen einsamen Birken
und etwas Farn,
und ohne Grabstein,
ohne Gnade.
without grace.
Du hattest nie die Wahl.
Meine Hände zu steif, um dir Lebwohl zu winken,
meine Erinnerungen,
jetzt kalt wie Eis
meine Augen – dein Bild im Himmel,
und keine Chance dir auf Wiedersehn zu sagen.
Danch kam nichts
und weiter nichts zu sagen,
ich lege diesen Stein für dich
mit Trauer im Herzen
und einem Seufzer.
My Liefde
Vandag staan ek hier voor n
wonderlike vrou en al my woorde
raak weg. Jy is my inspirasie jy is die
een waar om my woorde draai jy is
my liefling
Sonder jou is my bestaan leeg.
Sonder jou is my lewe leeg. Jy is die
een wat my weer op help. Jy is die
een wat my weer leer van die liefde
en dat als n doel het.
So vandag se ek dankie My hartskelk
waar in my liefde le
Love you more than one life time
Vienna, Austria
1954
I cannot reach you ,
Not even in my thoughts.
And nothing seems to reach
me anymore.
The time is borrowed
And I seek for the memory
To return;
When the shadow of your love
Gently touched my soul.
Wien 1954
Ich kann Dich nicht mehr erreichen.
Meine tiefsten Gedanken
verstecken Dich in meinem Herzen.
Die Zeit is geborgt
und ich begehre die Erinnerung
der Realitaet zurueckzurufen,
als Deine Liebe
zaertlich meine Seele beruehrte.
Gewoonlik is my boundaries sterk
Word ek assigned deur guidance met a Engels'vlerk
My journey neem langer en my sielsnare word gevleg
My boundaries raak flexible en a unieke konneksies word aanmekaar geheg
A journey het ontwikkel in a vriendskap so eg
Dit gaan my verstand te bowe want dis so opreg
God praat in a taal
Wat ons laat stil staan
Aandagtig in afwagting laat luister
Na Sy liefdestaal wat Hy in ons harte fluister
God wil my wys ek is gebless
Sag en delikaat word ons 'gepress'
Hierdie keer is ek uitgebole vir a ses
Soms moet ek relax, let go en vergeet van die res
Hierdie is wat God vir my skets om te besef...
A vriendskap gestuur van Bo
A konneksie met frekwensies watse sein nie verloor
God het ons gebless met baie in stoor
A hegte band in ons harte in geboor
In a droom staan ek buite my liggaam en staar
Na a sielskonneksie so raar
A Visie in die droom omvou my om te aanvaar
God se tyd en redes is set in stone en klaar
Ek word gewys
ek is besig om op a deurskynende glasbord te skryf
Met rooi cokie en merke soos ek uitvee en oor die bord vryf...
jy kom met jou blou cokie aan
Help my met die organogram en teken a traan...
Verward staan my siel en kyk en wil net nader gaan...
Let op na die stilte, die konsentrasie en vloei
Saam vorm ons die kleur op die bord wat gloei
In a moment kraak die glas in a spiderweb form...
Begin ons huil soos a raining storm
Verward staan ek en kyk en vra Here wat nou???
Als was so spontaan hoekom kan dit nie aanhou???
Ek kry a duidelike antwoord wat van langs my af kom
Dink aan die visie...
dit slaan my stom...
A deurskynende glasbord so sterk en skoon
Maar wat is die doel as daar nie a boodskap in kleur vertoon
sonder kleur geskryf is die glasbord doelloos
Die 'smutch' merke op die bord is van gebeure in die lewe wat jou laat bloos
Die traan word vasgevang in die spiderweb
om jou te herinner julle is daar vir mekaar in die scattering moments of life in 'flashing' red
Live your life met veelvoudige pret.
Verdwyn
Gespruit en toe vergete met gewete van papier
Besluit te neem om als te los wat hierso agter bly
Eers drie; toe een; toe twee; toe vier
Die som van toekomsblik vir jou - maar eerder meer vir my
Die aand was koud en hunkring sterk sou waardes my verpas
Uitnodigend - en kort voor lank was jy my warm jas
Maar soos ‘n fondament bly ek die een wat agterbly
Ek doen en werk verwagtend want die vrug het my verly
As steunpilaar vir jare nog, sou ek die las moes dra
Vergete hoe die woeker-nag my meer as dit sou vra
Ons oes is nou die vrugte van die saad van liefdesdaad
Jou jas in my kas wil nie meer pas – ‘n las bly inderdaad
Eers twee, toe vier; toe drie dan een
Jou beurt die anker rol te speel, wyl ek die winter nag alleen
tot in die lente steeds sal wees – al is die kinders ook by my
Groei my enigheid tot bo, waar die Wysheid met sy hulp my lei.
Ek wou nie wees als wat ek kon
wees,
Ek wou nie meer 0800 gedoen het
as ander,
Maar ek moes, om 'n beter
toekoms te he.
Troep maak seker die
vlag op jou linker skouer waai
altyd vorentoe,
Trope grawe daai gat,
Troep skeer jou hare,
Troep, is jy lief vir jou land.
Dit is maklik om n mens te laat
doen wat onmenslik is
As jy hom eers laat vergeet dat hy
mens is.
Afgryse is minder afgryslik
As dit deel is van jou werk
beskrywing.
Toe ek my eerste dooie kind
gesien het,
Het ek my self oorreed dat dit is
waarvoor ek opgelei was.
Toe ek my tiende dooie kind
gesien het,
Het my brein hulle in 'n
kompartement begin stoor.
Toe ek my eerste dooie soldaat
gesien het,
Het ek myself gesê dit sal nooit
ek
wees.
'n Familie man lyk net soos 'n
terroris.
Jihad beteken heilige oorlog,
Maar ek het die verkeerde god
aanbid in daai land.
Hulle oorlog was 'n oorlog teen
my.
Ek het geantwoord met my
geweer,
Nooit vrae gevra nie.
Ek het huis toe gekom met al my
vingers en tone,
Maar 'n gedeelte van my het
agter
gebly.
In die aand maak my brein daai
doods kompartement oop.
Ek was 'n soldaat,
Maar verkoolde lyke maak vir 'n
kak alarm in die oggend,
Lucifer se braai het 'n neiging om
aan jou neus te kleef,
Insomnia doen min om my
senuwees te kalmeer.
Meeste mense droom hul lewe
lank om 'n held te wees,
Ek herleef dit elke nag in my
nagmerries.
I miss you
I miss her more than words could say
I couldn't even look at her the same way
Her skin lost of life... dull and pale
It felt like a horrible fairy tale
ALS took her from me too soon
While I was looking at the bright blue moon
I prayed to God to not take her from me
I just wanted to run away and flee
Showing her my love through sign language
I could hardly even manage
missing her more every day
For her to be unable to say
The words she wanted to express
All the sadness, hurt, and stress
I thought I had her for longer
But I never thought to wonder
What it would be like without her
I love you more than I ever showed
I know you are up in heaven looking down below
At this world that was once much brighter
You were a very tough fighter