Mary
Mary Eliza Mahoney
birth in 1845 an American black child of former slaves daughter of Mary Jane and Charles Mahoney
at 18 showed interest in healing Humanity
in 1863 and the New England hospital for women and children headed
into the healthcare industry
has a younger sister named Ellen also wanted to become a nurse
but alas she didn't graduate
Mary train long days 16 hours
students then earn $1 to $4 an hour
Mary graduated 1879 as a registered nurse
alongside with three other colleagues as the first black woman nurse in the United States of America
2/6/21
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2021©
Sunruse: May 7th 1845 Dorchester Massachusetts
Sunset: January 4th 1926 Boston Massachusetts
Nationality: American
Alma mater: New England Hospital for Women and Children
It’s midnight in New York
and in this tall building
Herb and Molly are
in bed making love.
Molly is a virgin
and it hurts.
Olga’s upstairs
in bed with cancer
terminal and it hurts.
Melvin’s downstairs
in bed snoring.
Nothing hurts because
he doesn’t know yet
he has multiple sclerosis.
In the hallway a thief
goes floor to floor
trying door knobs
hoping one will open.
All the doors are locked,
chained and bolted.
Everyone is safe.
No one can get in.
Donal Mahoney
A spindly young fawn
wanders away from its doe.
Coyotes must eat.
Donal Mahoney
When the dogwoods bloom
pink and white blossoms create
canopies of joy.
Donal Mahoney
Two people so different
can view the poor
through different lenses
and offer a solution
but not the same solution
while America decides.
One is Robin Hood
who would take from some
and give to others.
The other is Nero
who would let more crumbs
fall from his table.
Donal Mahoney
A spelunker he was
from adolescence on.
An outdoorsman
with the best equipment
exploring caves
one after another
shining a big flashlight
as he weaved among the
stalactites and stalagmites
saying he would never
explore another cave
once he found the right one.
He found that cave at forty,
sold his flashlight,
married and settled down.
Donal Mahoney
After the doctor tells Ahmad
his test results, Ahmad says
he needs a new place to live.
His tent’s in ruins, Ahmad says.
His body will soon shake a final time
and turn to dust in the sun.
In the trees vultures preen as
Ahmad rides his camel into the hills.
He will die in a new place to live.
Donal Mahoney
All that hair
trapped in a braid
silver to the waist
Opal this morning
nude in the mirror
brings the braid up
between her breasts
and around her neck,
a python of her creation
that she promised Elmer
she would cut off
for a pixie hairdo
like Audrey Hepburn
if he would take her
on the Fourth of July
to the Senior Dance,
something Wilbur
would always do
if she wore high heels
and that red dress
and those black
nylons he found
with the seams
like the ones she wore
the day he came home
all crew cut and cowlicks
from Korea.
Donal Mahoney
Better take his wife to lunch
after what he said yesterday.
A slip of the tongue.
But where to take her?
The Chinese buffet?
The Indian buffet?
Maybe the Japanese place.
She likes sushi and tempura.
But when he asks about lunch
she says not a chance.
She has to clean the house.
Cleaning lady comes today.
Donal Mahoney
Long article in the paper
this morning stops Tim from
gobbling his bacon and eggs.
Bears are starving in the woods.
Too many cubs, too little food.
There’s a plan to feed them.
But no plan yet to feed people
in the city nearby waving signs
about working for food.
Donal Mahoney
Happened 40 years ago
senior year of college
they were engaged
to marry in June
till he dropped her off
one night at the dorm
and she said something
He can’t remember
what she said but he
moved to Alaska
married another
she married another too
they had nice families
beautiful children
Widowed now they meet
at the class reunion
she’s a lovely woman
and likes him still
they dance and she says
she saved his ring
would he like it back
It’s a keepsake, he says
tells her to keep it
He can’t remember
what she said that night
at the dorm but he feels
the same pain again
and gets in his truck
it’s home to Alaska
Donal Mahoney
Fred visits Bill every month at
the facility he’s been in for years.
Age and booze brought Bill there.
He's still strapped to his bed
so he can't go wandering again
when he gets a taste for a beer.
Bill calls Fred by name this time
and asks if Jim has found a job.
Fred tells Bill no but doesn't
remind him their cousin is dead.
All three would go fishing as kids
for bluegill, crappie and catfish
with cane poles in summer.
There’d be a big family fish fry.
Bill says he’s going home soon
but there is no home to go to.
His trailer was sold long ago
to help pay the bill at the facility
where every so often nurses
turn him to avoid bed sores.
The state checks for those.
A license can be suspended.
Donal Mahoney
Fred’s a reasonable man
something he takes pride in.
Just the other night
before he threw a dish
against the wall while
talking with his wife
he told her if he knew
what was wrong with him
he’d see a professional.
Right now he’s too busy.
Two new patients tomorrow
coming in for therapy.
Donal Mahoney
Young hummingbird swirls
and darts to the red feeder.
Black cat waits below.
Donal Mahoney
A row of lilacs
covered with a summer snow.
Ten white butterflies.
Donal Mahoney
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