Folks, everyone needs a vacation now and then. After a bit of a funk and then a lovely Thanksgiving, I have returned to Madison and will try to post daily. This poem is about a friend of over 30 years who has become a hero of mine. Selfless, talented, and an all-around great woman, loyal friend, loving wife, fabulous mom, and caring artist. For C., with love.
Therapy in Bb
Last-minute detour;
Mrs. Kelly is dying.
The family wants the music therapist
to come as soon as she can.
So she revs up her little Vibe
heads towards the nursing home,
unlocks the trunk,
unloads guitar and gear…
preparing to sing another soul
to the other side.
Dying is easy – getting there is hard.
The soothing strum of her deft fingers,
her buttery smooth voice…
these are qualities of her calling.
As she almost whispers, “Danny Boy,”
Mrs. K’s shoulders relax;
fingers ease from clenched fists.
This family knows and trusts her,
and their shoulders relax as well.
Over the years, the music therapist has seen
the blank smiles of dementia,
heard their laughter, unprompted.
The tears of loved ones
trickling over forced, brave faces.
The final sigh, when death grants peace,
eight grams lifting along with her voice
into eternity.
Once, she sang in cabarets, acted in plays,
danced The Big Apple of Broadway dreams.
Music therapy has brought her more purpose
than playing adenoidal Miss Adelaide.
This calling gives her satisfaction.
Gives her purpose.
Gives her joy.
Gives her administrative grief.
Gives her patients relief.
Gives her backaches, but also
a swelling of her already brimming heart.
She is the angel of music
who helps death come in peace.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Also on Poetic Bloomings, where the prompt is Gratitude in Abundance; also, at my poetic hearth, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Roger Green
Yeah, I suppose I do need a vacation. Problem is thsat the brain hasn’t gotten the message.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amy To Roger’s Brain: “Take him somewhere, dude. For God’s sake, have pity!!!!”
Let me know if your grey matter responds! Amy
T Scott
This was a very nice piece..thanks for sharing
Sharp Little Pencil
Welcome to my blog, Scott. Or is it T? Anyway, I’m coming over to take a peek at what you have going! Peace, Amy
Joseph Harker
This is fantastic. Right out of the gate with a bang, and you don’t pull any punches in showing a portrait that’s both heartfelt and unique. Lots of beautiful phrases in here, but I like the first two lines and the last two lines the best.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Joseph! My friend is the most inspiring person, and I spent the whole week with her clan. Really great, relaxing visit… glad you liked this poem, because it meant so much to me when I wrote it. Amy
vivinfrance
I didn’t know there was such a thing – I want one when I’m going. You’ve given us a beautiful gratitude poem
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, I’m touched. Yes, Carolyn brings either her guitar or (at special request) a harp her husband hand-crafted for her (he is an artist as well, a builder of sets for movies and theater). She is the most calming, affirming person, and she has helped so many folks to a peaceful end, as well as those who have weeks or months left to find a way out of the anxiety that comes with dementia, with the pain of cancer… You two would love each other, I’m sure. Amy
christine
music therapy is awesome, and so needed, lovely tribute to those who give themselves in such an intimate way for the dying
Sharp Little Pencil
And of course it is only offered in the posher nursing homes. People think she should do it for free! It’s a calling, for sure, but it’s also a lot of work, from the lugging of equipment to the nimbleness of mind to see what music will help a person to relax… to the endless paperwork. She earns every dime and more that she is paid for this incredible work. Peace, Amy
Renee Espriu
What an awesome calling you have, Amy. So many could benefit from your gift but the ones that actually do, I’m sure, feel blessed. Some day I hope to volunteer in hospitals or wherever they might need me. I don’t play the guitar but do sing so perhaps that would do. Thank You for all that you do.
Sharp Little Pencil
Actually, Renee, this poem is about my friend. I have volunteered to provide entertainment in nursing homes, like singalongs… but Carolyn needed specific medical training as well as other schooling to become a licensed music therapist. She works in hospice, a challenging atmosphere. C is trained to know the signs of respiratory distress; how to recognize when a person is connecting, even when they seem comatose; how to deal with a mountain of paperwork required by the state and her supervisors. Daily conference calls. She is called to the work, but it is work, and she will never be paid enough, in my opinion. It’s a job, but it brings her such joy and her patients such comfort. God bless her!
You can go to a nursing home anytime and lead a singalong, even vocally. I encourage you to do it – I have, and that population, who have most of the dots still on their dice and will indeed sing along with old popular songs and hymns, would LOVE you to pieces! Love, Amy
Renee Espriu
Sorry I got it wrong, Amy, but I just assumed with all of your talent that it would not surprise me you could do this. I congratulate your friend and commend her that she is there for folks. I use to volunteer as a teenager in hospitals and enjoyed it. When I retire it is probably what I will do but now energy is lacking due to work so will have to just keep it on the burner.
Sharp Little Pencil
No apology needed, Renee. I am flattered you thought me that talented! And educated!! I was just about to email her the link so she can not only read the poem but read the responses, which have been so thoughtful and tender.
As for the “burner,” mine’s full! Amy
kaykuala
Amy Ma’am,
Music therapist, a calling selfless in nature. Great tribute to an old friend. She must have had a fair share of sadness revolving around her music. Must have strong resolve I would think. So you are now back in Madison. Good for you! The blogging community can look forward to connecting more often with you now.
Btw, thanks for the tip. Yes,It looked a bit confusing. I had it revamped below. Now it looks better I guess. Thanks Amy!
Secrets abundance
Speak and reveal I will not
Was wild and vicious!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, Hank, so few poets mention comments I’ve made over on MY blog, so thanks. It all comes together now – and to tell you the truth, I misread “vicious” as “viscous,” which brings a sort of yucky context to it, so that was part of the problem. What a ditz! Still, you’re most welcome for the tip and I’m happy you are not of the thin-skinned variety of poet, because I always offer typo into in love and invite the same.
As for my friend, she endured a whole lot of schooling to get her license. It’s not something you just volunteer for, right? Working with the dying and those who are weeks-to-months is very specific in its requirements – everything from certain medical training (in order to recognize respiratory distress and how to relieve it) to understanding how the music affects the person. Strong resolve, yes, but she says this work brings her joy as well. She also plays for families as they say goodbye to their loved one who has just died, if the family wants that. She’s a powerhouse and also a kitten at heart… I love her so! Amy
Richard Cody
Beautiful. Eight grams?
Sharp Little Pencil
A movie a few years back, based on a reference to a scientist’s contention that, at the moment of death, the body loses eight grams of weight. He thought perhaps this was the soul departing. Intriguing, because scientists often find themselves MORE spiritual over the years than less. Hope this is the correct info; it’s what I remember, anyway! Thanks, and peace, Amy
Richard Cody
Re: 8 grams… rings a bell now you mention it. Thanks!
Sharp Little Pencil
I knew you’d catch that reference, Richard. Thanks so much for coming back and telling me. Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
What a gift this person brings! Wonderful, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
She is a friend of some 30 years – and a wonderful person. We used to work a survival job together; that’s how she, her husband, and I met. After all these years, we spent Thanksgiving together, and I got to shadow her one day on the job. Also, we were joined one full day by another former co-worker (actor, now a writer and playwright). Thanks, Sherry! xo, Amy
Debbie
What a beautiful poem and ministry of your friend. So special. . .Thank you for writing and sharing!
Sharp Little Pencil
THanks, Debbie. A calling and a very specialized profession, and she does her work with such love, joy, and compassion. It’s complicated work, and she is well suited to it. A hero of mine, really. Love, Amy
MiskMask
This is so beautifully crafted, and touchingly soft and heartwarming. I think it might be exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thanks, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m so glad, Marilyn. See, it’s not only in hospice that Carolyn works her magic! xo Amy
Mary
Very impressed with this poem and with your friend, Amy. Everyone, at the end of life, should have such a person with them. So true that dying is easy, but getting there is hard. A strong write!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mary. Yes, she is a very impressive, capable, sensitive person. It’s too bad more nursing homes and hospices do not employ these folks – their training is extremely thorough and specialized, and families as well as the person who is dying are brought so much comfort. Peace, Amy
Kim Nelson
My Dear Amy,
You came back with a flash of inspiration and talent. Well done, this one.The changing mood in the room washed over me. I heard a soothing voice and strumming guitar; and I felt my heart swell and salty tears well. This piece of writing is a gift and a service. Thank you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, this is one of those comments poets long for. Thank you. I know it’s half the poem recreating my own experience watching my dear friend work – but without her commitment to earning a degree to perform this ministry, as well as the loving way she offers it, I’d never have had the words. I hope Carolyn reads this and understands not only how much I respect her, but also how much my readers and fellow poets are learning about this field. “A gift and a service.” It really describes her work, too! Peace, Amy
thefisherlady
I love this post… reminds me of the lady we asked to come in to sing acapella for my mother as we shared her last hours on earth. Angel breath … angel song… healing all things in those last moments…
She was willing to leave the busyness of her day to bless this dear mother of ours.
Sharp Little Pencil
So glad your mother had peace, and God bless that singer.
Carolyn is actually a certified, licensed music therapist, so there’s a lot of physiological info she has on hand as well. But the comfort of a familiar face helps the family as much as the person who is experience what I call “the final healing.” And beyond the pain, there’s so much love waiting… Thanks so much. Amy
Lindy Lee
You sing Carolyn’s work most lovingly… ♪
Sharp Little Pencil
She is so worthy of the song. Peace, Amy