That greeny flower

The Garden, that Greeny flower

with roses

a life filled

Hydrangea

with flowers.

Lilac fuchsia So that

I was cheered

Snowdrop bluebells

reawakened,

Not the weeding

Not the Daffodils

a memory of those flowers

Today:

I’m filled with love

and passion

colours it

while our eyes fill

with tears

So near to people to

Love and greet as friends

I’ve met so many near friends

love, abiding love,

it will be telling

True loyal friends

reawakened,

a memory of those flowers.

Loyalty to send me cards

Get well greetings

A looping flower wisteria

that there were flowers also

True friendships

A pastel shade of blue

Only give me time,

I don’t know what to say

Wisterias they cover

the patio door

Go along

Give me time

Each day

I cannot say

Time to recall them

I cannot help but think back

reawakened,

a memory of playing golf in the afternoon

I have seen it

and so have you

I’m filled with the feeling

being upside down

and retained

a number of various

something of their sweetness

I can remember it all

Silence can be complex

But you do not get far

walking down

walk

with silence.

saying it that’s a different thingand the will becomes again

reawakened

Joyce, Muriel, Tom and Victor (in response to WCW's Asphodel, That Greeny Flower)

Constancy

hospital

a huge mountain between my

heart and tongue

ill-starred

not important

rubbish

brought here and left

a mountain

if I could pray

prayers would move me

***

been in

(not quite sure, a long time in the firmament)

fed up with constancy

don’t get attention

manage alright at home

it’s not doing me good

and it should

shouldn’t it?

***

some people like being bossed

I have

a man’s will/a woman’s might

must

be careful not

to annoy

to get fed up

fixed and resting

submitting to the saintly routine

***

Fellows in the Firmament!

it is up to you to get right

down to you, getting better

(***

certainly is

***)

to be helpful with those helping you

determination will make a difference

to be very patient

is a difficult art

you’re not born such

constantly

learning

you get old

as the northern star.

Anonymous
11 September 2009


This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

The inner part

in last week and three weeks before

bowel trouble

(nice)

test me kidneys

mind going round

which is what and what is

ignorance last week and three before

toboggans into bowel trouble

embarrassment

that you need

to tell them inner

things

(nice)

ungrateful bowels

heart and me blood test

results

unconvinced

test me test me trudges up

mind going round to ignorance again

anonymous 8th July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

Starcrossd

what time is it?

it is she may ring by every star

she may not forever now

*

at home rather know

than feel and fell

pain it’s getting better

lovers tell

*

my daughter may ring

waiting home and fell waiting

*

someone came to me

saw me when

I fell

*

waiting for my daughter

what time is it?

it is she may ring by every star

she may not forever now


Anon
8 July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

my eyes they view the afternoon (part 2)

The living day

my eyes they view the afternoon

but when I sleep the floor

try to get up my way

the image shouts

where am I going?

I woke through heavy sleep

in hospital my rest defeat

shadow’s form to ask

everything against your nature

Lynn Holt 1^st July 2009


This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

Gammy leg

started out cellulitis

like a rash creams and lotions managed

but you know how it goes

down the leg

on the foot

then they wanted to meet

can’t remember Christmas

my leg

could sit here and cry for eternity

wouldn’t put my leg back

occasionally I forget

roundabouts

going longer between spaces

I have phantom pains

like an itch a weird sensation

I want to scratch my foot

the foot’s not there

try to master mind over matter

can’t scratch phantom pains

sometimes it works

sometimes I still forget

Anonymous 8th July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

My eyes they view the afternoon (part 1)

went down and that was it

going to make my Aunt a cup of tea

a cup of tea and went down to the floor

woke in hospital

*

try to get up

image shouts

*

where am I going?

different than a normal fall

try to get up , couldn’t shout or anything

don’t remember the brain scan

*

I woke through heavy sleep

in hospital my rest defeat

*

cry with aggravation

particularly in the early stages

can’t even get to your own wardrobe

have to ask for everything

shadow’s form to ask

everything against your nature

against your nature

always wanted to do things myself

accepted it more than to begin with

in terrible pain, chronic pain/relief

*

my eyes they view the afternoon

but when I sleep

*

get back to my Aunt

I care for and love

only the two of us

a normal quiet life, the living day.

*

Lynn Holt

1^st July 2009

the old grenadiers

you’re 96 years

thy image

an old Grenadier

at my age seem to be past doing

but these particulars are not

my measure:

overthrow 3 bad falls

oh the old Grenadiers the servants, the soldier-servants

don’t create alarms

just keep idling away

pain's

red medal round my neck

in defeat

this day I forgot

lay on the floor to the weary night

though new-fangled ill

this old dog’s prouder still

Ron Miles (Curzon) 1^st July 2009

This poem is part of the Patience project, for more information please visit http://patience-project.blogspot.com/

Debilitated

crying
with frustration
why
don't you listen?

pain:
why d'you do this?
sometimes
cry with clenches

get up
from your wheelchair
scream
God-forgotten prayers.



Jean Cheatham
1st July 2009

Ever

a stroke: it’s like freezing a piece of meat

waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting
a cancellation
put me back again
a slight stroke
couldn’t move my arm
so I lift it with the other one
don’t let it lie dead
rub the back of your hand
keep it going

and then it’s un-frozen

waiting and
try to keep moving
haul yourself
with a walking stick
to your exercises
tried, tired and knackered
they train you, so
if you fall in the house by yourself
trapped

but only in part and some remains

waiting and
trying to open the door
try to get to the phone
try to climb a step, up four inches
(one bad leg, two arms, nothing 100%)
terrifying thinking about it
don’t think, try to
get on, to stand

on ice.

Anonymous
24-31 July 2009

the speech therapist

when my love swears that she's truth

the words come down the wrong half

we can’t - we are – learning unlearned

I do believe her, though I know she lies

in the world's false subtleties
not the half, the other we will learn to speak

although she knows my days are past the best

helpless helpless, paralysed

I credit her false-speaking tongue
it’s coming spent, it’s half through

but wherefore says she is not, she is
hard to describe

therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
it’s half through, we hope it will

BE.

Anonymous

31^st July 2009

Come back come back come back

walking:

a simple question

put it this way

once you’re in these places

they expect you to stay

til you’re better

my own children took to walking straightway

my wife in hospital expecting a child

I walked there four times that day

morning, afternoon, evening

must’ve done 40 miles

now you can’t say I’ve been a lazy person so

far as walking is concerned

put it this way

what changes is you

are seeing four walls day in

out

came here with expectations

put in here, I plunged

to where I am

now

walking:

a simple question, a simple answer

me, wheelchair

lets put it again this way

opportunity is a fine thing

a fine thing is opportunity

a pint and a half of beer a day

my doctor recommended

recommended a little village green

fields, the pub, a walk

dig the allotment

active all my life’s apprenticeship

(walking in the wood at night

by the river way

it’d make a noise like:

come back come back come back

sandpipers

on the side

oh god aye

comes to life that does)

put in here and I’m idle, a passed buck

explain that to me straight

a straight punch

tell the doctors

they will be treated in their late life

like this.

Thomas Weston

31 July 2009

Mary/Margaret

illness is change
chance
not accepting
a throw of the dice
I’m OK/you're OK
I'm going to live
you too
will not abolish illness
don’t fight
allow it in
be alright here
they’re looking after heaven's latchkey
looking after all the time
a paradise
will not abolish
see them everyday
angels
angelas
feel looked
down up/on
looked after
one of the most important things
I’m glad
Ive got
pair of dice, we
(mary margaret)
the wings to fly to heaven
well looked after
they’re doing their best
couldn’t wish a better
chance angel


Mary, Margaret
31st July 2009

look around

look around and
see the dust
the atmosphere
its
there


anon
2009

Made in collaboration with arthur+martha guest artist Anneke Kuipers.

shut in now

shut in now
to feel free
just want to jump
in


anon
2009

Made in collaboration with arthur+martha guest artist Anneke Kuipers.

more freedom

you have to
hope for a
quick recovery
so you can go home
more freedom when you are
away hospitals are very good
but they have to have a
limit for what patient can do
hospitals are
very good
they do their best


anon
recycled postcard, pen, glue
2009

Made in collaboration with arthur+martha guest artist Anneke Kuipers.

look round

look round and
see the dust
the atmosphere -
its
there

anon 2009
Cherry Tree Hospital

My wedding

my wedding
my engagement
my eternity



Evidence bag, pen, metal thread
Hilda Hewitt
2008

rings together

what have you
done in our
lifetime being
rings together


evidence bag, paper, pen
Harry Wantling
2008

don't join the navy

tennis player
Allen
don't join the navy
its too rough




children's sock, luggage tag, pencil
(part of the 'pictures emphasising stillness' collection http://www.arthur-and-martha.co.uk/pages/objects.htm)
Allen Whitaker
2007