SURVIVAL, A Poem By Mrs Elizabeth Dozier

"My main focus was the early leaving.
All these things happened
As I went along.

Cells rotten, decaying,
Being removed, washed away with water.

Waiting for the bus
On the street.
Wind blowing leaves in the air.

Look for any change of body feelings
Waiting for the results of tests.

Long wait for public transportation.
Time schedules
Not known.

Nurses. Friendly temperature takers.
Speak with soft voices.

I met a lady on the bus,
And we talked the whole trip.
"Are you going where I'm going?"

Survivors conversing.
"Are you a survivor?"

Bus stops. Picks up passengers.
Deposit fare. Tokens, bills, change.
Walk the aisle. Sit. Stand. No seats.

Hospital stay not long -- two days.
Like the quietness of sleep.

Rain, rain, rain. Standing in large puddles.
Wet feet, wet clothes. Umbrellas up. Wind strong.
Rain like many teardrops.

Sitting in the chair
Watching the drip, drip, drip of medicine.

Patience. Wait for the next moment.
Enjoy now."

[Source: Swarthmore Last Collection Address May 2006, by Diane Downer Anderson, Assistant Professor for Educational Studies at Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA; as a self-directed life-long learner myself, I strongly feel that the entire contents of her beautiful address are worth reading carefully! The poem was integral to the address;]