The NHS is in the news often for the wrong reasons. I believe we have more to be grateful for than not in our fabulous NHS,which often does not get the praise and thanks it deserves. Here is a poem written by Michael Rosen to celebrate the NHS at 60.
These are the hands
These are the hands
That touch us first
Feel your head
Find the pulse
And make your bed.
These are the hands
That tap your back
Test the skin
Hold your arm
Wheel the bin
Change the bulb
Fix the drip
Pour the jug
Replace your hip.
These are the hands
That fill the bath
Mop the floor
Flick the switch
Soothe the sore
Burn the swabs
Give us a jab
Throw out sharps
Design the lab.
And these are the hands
That stop the leaks
Empty the pan
Wipe the pipes
Carry the can
Clamp the veins
Make the cast
Log the dose
And touch us last.
By Michael Rosen
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This is a pic. of my hands, and workaday hands though they are, I’m afraid they don’t do half the things mentioned in the poem. They do their best though – all anyone can do!
An excellent poem about, not only nurses, but people – the people who look after people – …family…friends….neighbours….all of us. Humanity at its best.
I hoped you would not mind my using them as you always appear to me as a healing type of person so I thought your hands would be appropriate for the poem. H
Helen – I was flattered! That there’s a picture of my hands, and then the words “These are the hands…” and a lot of very, very good things that hands can do. As I said, I don’t do half of those things! I was flattered, Helen, pleased and flattered. I sent the poem to my cousin, who was a nurse most of her working life, as I think she’ll like to see it. I would have sent it to the two of my sisters who were nurses as well, but they have passed from this life – maybe they see it anyway! One of those sisters, was also a Reiki Healer. I’d say it’s in the family, but it’s in all of us, in all things, all of LIFE.
Funny you should say that, about me coming across as a healing person. I can give healing . I did, quite a lot. I then was made very ill by careless prescription of strong medication, followed by neglect, by doctors. This has left me a bit knackered, and so, folk don’t turn to me for Healing in the way that they used to. It’s still there, though, as it is in everyone. All you need to do, is open your mind, and your heart, and ask, with good intent, for what’s best for the person, animal, plant, place….world! What happens, is what needs to happen – sometimes quite immediate and gob-smacking, sometimes takes a bit more time or isn’t so obvious. It is always beneficial, though.
Sometimes it troubles me, that I don’t appear to get the chance to help as I used to, but Mike (my voice of reason) points out that it still happens, in different ways. Fact is, I see some of the ideas I get ‘out there’, through ‘The Orkney News’, as being part of it – maybe helping someone, somewhere?
And it’s always possible to simply ask for help for folk, too. Absent healing/prayer, call it what you will – it’s the intent that counts.
If you’re well enough to actually channel the energy, fine, if not – ask for what’s needed – that’s my approach, these days.
PS Having said I was poisoned by doctors, I should also mention that, by far the majority of the people who took care of me, when I was ill, were ….’great’ seems hardly a big enough word. The nurses, the lady who did my scan, the Orkney Mental Health team ( under-staffed and under pressure) couldn’t have been better. The fault was with a few individuals, a very few. The majority were true examples of why people go into what’s called ‘the caring professions’ in the first place. Lovely, kind people, with a real concern for my welfare and recovery.