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NANCY'S FAVORITE POETRY

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The House by the Side of the Road
by Sam Walter Foss

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man. -

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man. -

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice.
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone. -

Let me live in my house by the side of the road-
It's here the race of men go by.
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish- so am I;
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Submitted by Gene R. on September 23, 2009

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My Nursing Life Has Ended

By

Nancy E. Reilly August 17, 2005

Forty-eight years ago

In pink uniform and stockings by Hanes,

I volunteered as a nurse’s aide

In a hospital in White Plains.

Young and enthusiastic

But with apprehension in my heart,

I knew little about nursing care,

Asking, where do I start?

It was then I decided

Early in my life

To become a Registered Nurse

And help others through strife.

So I became a student

In the University at Georgetown,

Where my love for nursing

Really was found.

In 1963, I married

Got pregnant with a tot.

And was working in the VA Hospital

When JFK was shot.

Moving to Michigan,

I still needed to learn

So after my second child,

My career took a turn.

I enrolled at the U of M

GO BLUE

That is where I earned my Masters

And Ph.D., too.

As my love for nursing grew,

Along life’s winding way,

I decided to teach

As well as increase my pay.

Thus I went into education

Where I am now,

Teaching for over 30 years.

I just wonder HOW??

It has been a sweet journey

Filled with both fun and pain.

But as I move on,

There is still much to gain.

So today, being my last day

In the nursing field,

I wish to say GOODBYE

To all those I helped heal. ©

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