Short Hospice Poems

H elping
O thers
S imply
P ass
I nto
C alm
E ternity...

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Sad plight in hospice
Fed smorgasmord of drugs
Left the great beyond....

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Once the words are written down
  —you’ll never die alone

(Villanova Pennsylvania: July, 2016)...

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Once the words are written down,
—you will never die alone

(Villanova Pennsylvania: July, 2016)...

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I walk down this street
Away from the hospital;
Last place where we meet.
None of us held true avail
Over how God would greet you....

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At hospice my relative died
Let's rejoice the choices he tried
We could celebrate
His life that was great
But you continually cried...

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Palliative to hospice,
I jump from stone to stone

The river waits in silence
—its waterfall unknown

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2017)...

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Palliative to hospice,
  I jump from stone to stone

The river waits in silence,
 —its waterfall unknown

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2017)...

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one flickering light
at the end of a dark hall…
hospice nurse running

Date: 19 Mar 2019
Contest: Writing Challenge 3- March 2019 - Senryu Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Dear Heart...

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°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°


life has left this sterile white garden

bent as a willow, I keen above blossomless beds

grieving those roses that once grew here


°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°...

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brrEXIT
by Michael R. Burch

what would u give
to simply not exist—
for a painless exit?
he asked himself, uncertain.

then from behind
the hospital room curtain
a patient screamed—
"my life!"

Originally published by Setu...

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hospice nursing staff
comfort the sick and dying
angels without wings

Dedicated to the staff at the local hospice who cared so tenderly for my dad in his final year of life.


Angels Senryu Contest sponsored by Marvin Celestial
04~05~16...

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From my smartphone
fear rings
through 
knock, rattle, hospital hospice sounds
We connect. 
Tonight all I can think about is your voice, Jean.
The last call.
Vibrations continue 
fading
ivory white and black keys 
notes play out 
on Dakota land 
snow and deep deep holes 
from roots dug out....

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From a hospice bed
To a special dinner date
And a wet Red Rose 

I hold in my heart 
The memory of that night
My Rose bush still blooms

In my night garden
My Rose bush exudes that night 
My heart is embraced

A gentle rain falls
Creating weepy puddles 
Reflective mirrors


© Brenda V Northeast 6th Feb. 2012...

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Very sick with leukemia toward the end. It almost seemed as if mother was giving up after what she considered a hard and disappointing life.  She still held her boys in her eyes in the fading light.

“I'm not planning your funeral,” the doctor said.

winter sun
stretched to twilight
faint stars...

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Giving up,
we lose ourselves
in soft denials,
tally up bone-tinted
Kodaks – recall
brief glints of eye,
succinct resemblances
of generations. 

Listlessly,
we wait
death’s domination—
cool brushes
of wind,
flutterings 
of waxen wings
& last breaths,
dusky, distant
as the webbed
membranes
of memories....

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this netherworld
this hospice of broken souls
this travesty of triumph’s trauma
blank pages
telling stories
sightless readers
sifting the ash
of scorched lives
charred character
seeking solace
			 on the edge
					   of night



©10/14/2018

for – Soap Opera Titles Poetry Contest
sponsor – Sian St. John...

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Her hands shook
as they wheeled
him away.
Had his lips
been dry? 
Had his body
ached? 
Had he longed
for a touch
against his
fragile skin? 
Could she
have done more
to relieve
his pain? 
Could she
have loved him more, 
needed him more, 
begged him more
to stay? 
Her head swam
in the deafening silence
of guilt and sorrow
as she
buried herself
for feeling
relief....

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…waiting’s knife
slices time in broader swaths
stacking jagged moments
chaffing minutes raw, in existential unease
…one second snags the next
                       …the knife dulls
moments fray and shred
tomorrow folds today; time’s teeth - rounded
memories meld a transcendent balm
deeply rubbed by fading voices

a hospice hallway dims…
one light - grows brighter...

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 SURPRISE

S eductive sea of your tranquil eyes   
U shered me in for an adventurous dive 
R eceived resplendent corals nice
P eppy pure vibes of love came live
R ed and throbbing your heart’s hospice
I opened its door and got a splendid surprise
S pell bound was I to see the shiny oyster shell 
E mbossed on the pearl my name in golden gel! 


20th October,2016...

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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”...

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his final journey
in a huge black limousine
death comes to us all

the funeral cost
he won’t have to pay the bill ...
grieving relatives!!!!!!

I know the florists
make a 'killing' out of death
no wreathes when I'm gone!

I don’t want any
floral tributes when I die
give me flowers now!

I would much prefer
charitable donations
Hospice benefit!


10/18/18...

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Coughing and sputtering...
The cold night air hurts my lungs...
I inhale my cigarette and Google the freezing point of peroxide... 
My days have turned to mundane madness...
My nights blurr past like a speeding train...
I dream of breakfast even though it's 9 at night and I'm awake...
I count my nickels and dimes in hope of a biscuit in the morning...
Life is just a long hospice stay...
Merry Christmas...

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Hobo Butterfly

Rest here
Weary Monarch
Though Monterey calls you
No flight for broken wings that seek
Healing
Born in this arbor - this hospice -
Begging release to fly 
The wind express
Again!

4/28/20

Based on an injured butterfly, in our garden, that hitched a ride on the grill of our car.  We think he finally made it to Monterey and we have had butterflies in our garden ever since that summer....

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Meat to the hungry
Drink to the thirsty
You did it to the least
You did it unto me
Hospice to the stranger
Clothes to the naked
Visitation to the sick
And to the prisoner
Minister deeds and truth
Prove faith by works
Judgment with mercy
The needful things 
The basics of life
Care for Christ
You who are blessed
Take your inheritance
Ere resting in peace
Warm and fill
Encourage and heal
With your hands and feet...

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