A Season by Amanda Pendley

Amanda adopted the two dogwood motif aprons and wrote this powerful poem. She says, “This poem is a true story about a former patient, Ray, who was diagnosed with cancer and was alive when I wrote it, but who died shortly thereafter. It was written in memory of him and dedicated to his mother, Wilma, the bold, starched woman referred to in the poem, who asked me to read it at his funeral as part of his eulogy. A copy of the original work on the dogwood background has been framed and is now hanging in her home.”

The accompanying dogwood photograph was done by Tom Wortham.

A Season
By Amanda Pendley

As we began our busy day
    The sun rushed in to meet us.
        Brought hopes the winter air would fade
            Bring blossoms and new season.

The student asked, "What do you say?"
    With questions from our talk.
        We'd spoke of stages within grief
            The five that come with loss.

She said "I couldn't help but see
    That book upon your desk.
        Forgive my curiosity.
            It's not a nursing text?"

"You mean the one that's leather-bound?
    Oh, no, dear. Tis much more.
        So many answers there I've found,
            Like what you asked before.

When therapy and medicine
    Have done all they can do
        The greatest gift a nurse can give
            Is found only in this book."

We checked our list, prepared to meet.
    The names all looked familiar
        Except for one whose son I've seen.
            Today he wasn't with her.

A Christian widow, always starched
    And bold when she was with him
        Today her eyes had lost their gleam
            Indeed she seemed quite different.

I asked, "My dear, where is your Ray?"
    I dreaded now the answer.
        "Soon God will take my son away.
            He's diagnosed with cancer."

Her salty broken words now pierced
    Our hearts as they were spoken.
        She said, "I don't know what I'll do.
            I've lost my faith. I'm broken."

It's not supposed to be this way.
    I prayed not him, take me.”
        The answer given causes blame.
            It leaves me very angry.

She questioned "why" and then she asked,
    "Is God now punishing me?"
        She spoke of things her son had done,
            And those he won't complete.

She spoke of her abandonment
    By father at her birth.
        He left her orphaned soul with fear
            And questions of her worth.

I held her hand and wiped her tears,
    And listened oh so closely.
        The list would have to wait today.
            Her words were too important.

She'd birthed her son into this world
    And held him at her breast.
        She'd nursed him through the worst of times
            Rejoiced when times were best. 

No therapeutic plan would come 
    To mind so I just listened.
        The sprit took control. "Let's pray."
            Relief came with His mention.     

The words spoke of Creator God,
    Who granted each new life.
           Who took lost lambs adopt'd
              For His Son they'd crucified. 

I said, "His story now is told
    Like yours in early spring
        But from the loss of earthly life
            Eternal life does spring."

With tears of sorrow mixed with hope
    She left with humble heart.
        She said "I'll do what He commands.
            There's something yet to start."

At end of day, the nurse and I
    Looked back on what we'd learned.
        Reviewed the wisdom and the love
            Our college books had spurned.

She said, "Oh, please excuse my tears."
    I said, "Pray never lose it.
        It's sympathy without the 's' 
            It's called the nursing spirit."

On paper now the story sings
    Of mother's love and grief.
        For it was in the early spring
            The apron strings released.

The One who never left her
    Turns blues to pink in masses.
        Sends promise in a sun ray
            And words from Ecclesiastes.

Now each year as dogwoods bloom
    Her tears are mixed with laughter
        As she steps proudly in new shoes
            And speaks of ever after.

To others who have lost their babes
    With tears that can’t sustain
        She speaks of One who did the same
            So all could live again.