w “ A way with words
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Dear Reader, We want you to have dreams We want you to have hope We want you to learn from us Open this book if you are lonely -It can be your friend If you are down in the dumps – it might cheer you up You see, life isn’t always a rainbow – it has its ups and downs Things can be so unfair – missing people we love But poems are everywhere We found them hidden in our lives In earth, wind and fire around us In peace and war The stars and the moon In angels and in sleep In love and friendship and the history of our families Look at your hands The lifeline, the veins and the blood Underneath we are all the same We aren’t different just because we have disabilities We hope this book will be a key To open a door in your mind.
This book was funded by the National lottery of Ireland. Art work was produced with the help of County Louth VEC and the marvellous artist and tutor Lisa Sherry. Thanks to our families and friends and everybody at RehabCare Resource Centre, Dundalk.
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
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“ � Red is the garden of the rose And the sneaky red fox Running away from the hunters As the garden goes on fire Anita Guest
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Red roses in spring Manchester United Love I wear its colour in my clothes
e ros d e
s in spr
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Red Love
Siobahn Sharkey
Red The colour of the heart Love is a red rose I dreamt the colour red It shines down on me Red is the desire of my dreams Red kisses in the night A dream come true Melissa Fox
Red My garden has a lot of red A little red robin every morning Red roses berries and leaves On February the fourteenth You will see lots of red roses I think red is the passion colour Dolores Mckeever
Red is a biscuit tin Red is the shape of a heart Red is my future Martin Hanley
Red The colour of a woman’s gorgeous lips They are talking about me Saying nice things.. ‘he is so handsome, lovely, attractive..’ I am going to buy her red roses ‘these are for you good looking.’ Martin O’Connor
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Red Red is the colour of the rose flower Which means happiness It symbolises cupid which means love David Coyle
Red is the colour of vampires’ blood Red is the colour of the apple Red is the colour of dragons’ fire Red is the colour of the ruby jewel Red is the colour that fills my heart with pride Paddy Durnin
My Wild Weekend I went to the marshes with my dad I went to a dinner dance in the Ballymac I went for a meal in the Lisdoo I met Ellen yesterday with her mother…. And I went to the pub on Friday Patricia Durnin
I usually have a pint with my mates in the clans – But not this weekend I got a phone call Mammy shouts ‘It’s for you Stephen’ It was a woman A famous singer Rihanna ‘Meet me on my boat Stephen – I will send a driver to pick you up!’ Quick as you like I get the suit on – quick shave and a shower.. We had dinner but I can’t remember what we ate I had my eyes on her the whole time We danced under the stars.. ‘Stephen – you make me feel like the only girl in the world’ Before she left she slipped me her number ‘If you are ever in the Carribean – give me a call Stephen!’ Stephen Murphy
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Orange is a different kind of colour It is the sun rising in the morning And the sun going down in the evening David Coyle
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Orange is the colour of lava In the mountain it burns Or the colour of a runaway train When I am thinking of my hometown Of my people The colour of my hope for the rest of my life Paddy Durnin
Orange is the bottle The fruit of the rainbow Orange is the energy to build your body Martin Hanley
A girl holding an orange ball She has lost the match She stays in the corner She is sad She is so beautiful Like an orange flower She is going to talk to the coach She needs a break In the orange sun Anita Guest
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Orange
Sleep And Dreams I like to read a magazine in bed When I get too sleepy I turn out the light I sleep on my side I feel happy and safe I don’t hear a thing It is so quiet in my room I never dream – No – I never remember I don’t even know what I would dream about. Marie Grimes
Oh I was watching TV one night The film about a ghost When I went to bed and fell asleep And had a dream About a ghost coming into my room I was not afraid He told me never to worry About past present or future He would always take care of me
I dream about mummy and daddy I talk to them at night time I tell them I love them I miss my godson too My brother’s son Ritchie’s son He opened the door wide Kissed my cheek And I felt better I can’t cry because others will cry I sicken myself If I cry too much My four brothers My four sisters Love me I jump up in the morning And I want to hug My brothers and sisters I will cry in my own room but I won’t cry here Linda McEnteggart
Suddenly I wake I try to get back to sleep but I can’t What a lovely dream
Dolores McKeever
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Sleep And Dreams I miss my brother I miss my Eamon He’s coming home for Christmas He is He’s coming home He’s staying home He will The next time he goes to England He’s taking me with him He will
Sleep And Dreams I was watching cowboys on telly – John Wayne They were shooting at the Indians and riding big horses I was on the sofa with my feet up I fell asleep – and dreamt I was John Wayne.. ‘Come and get me!’ I shouted I have a horse in my daddy’s big field But I haven’t been on him yet But I will do soon – his name is Bob I don’t know what happened I was asleep But when I woke up I was on the floor And the sofa was up in the air Just like this! John Stokes
I am getting a beard I am Look! I am shaving it off tonight I am! It’s getting bigger It tickles It does! I am gonna shave it all off! John Stokes
Like Golden Hair It was a golden night I have memories and stars shining And gold jewellery the colour of sun glittering in the morning I see drums of gold Chains and rings Shining with colour like golden hair. Eileen Sharkey
Clean Hands Treasure The instrument is a whistle With holes and plays music It has no clothes and wears nothing at all It does not have an arse! It doesn’t smile and it’s eyes look cross Never use a flute like a magic wand The weather is raining like thunder and lightning And the flute is shaking with wind The flute was found many years ago in the sand Made out of wood on all sides
Sensible skin Spotless and clean. Eileen Sharkey
Fire I like to see fire at Halloween To light a bonfire is loud noise Especially on New Years Day – Fireworks in the sky And on a stick in the grass It pops up in the air We see a candle We see a fire Eileen Sharkey
They treasured it Eileen Sharkey
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I Am Fire Earlier this evening You forgot to turn the pan off I slowly started – I began with bad smoke Then my flames gathered Slowly I drifted up the stairs while you were sleeping It is dark but I alone light my own way You are trying to wake up Trying to tell the kids about me You might get out in time But if the fire brigade don’t get here I will explode your house It will be terrible…. But you will be out! John Clinton
Love Hold her in my arms Very fond of each other A child of our own John Clinton
Kissing Or Dancing? A man and a woman And a red building Kissing or dancing? I don’t know – a bit of both On a day like summer John Clinton
Wizard I am not evil I spend my days trying to bring him back I want to tell you I miss you I want to tell you I am good I want to help people John Clinton
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Love is walking hand in hand Through the park The sky bright blue and sunny Warming the cockles of my heart With you by my side My shining light My true love forever John Clinton
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Yellow It makes me feel yuck Such a sharp colour Bananas are yellow I don’t like them Still,the sand is yellow And I do like to walk on the beach But it’s still not my favourite colour Dolores Mckeever
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Yellow I love the sun So bright with the white clouds I like the birds They fly true in the sky I pray day and night It’s a special angel I love you so much I think of you all the time Karen Long
Yellow is the golden wheat field A monkeys breakfast A daffodils beam of smiles Filling me with sunshine Sandy
I like the sun He reminds me of mam and dad My friends supporting me Clouds make me upset Like when someone says ‘J stands for Jesus and G stands for God’ I don’t like that Martin Hanley
If I lived in a yellow submarine I would miss the sky I would miss the spring I will stay at home Beneath the brown roof of my house Martin O’Connor
Yellow I love the sunny weather wearing my summer clothes off on my holidays with mother and father they make me happy I look up to them I would not be what I am without them Siobhan Sharkey
Stress
Jack And The Ladder
Stress can get you down Only you can cheer me up When are you coming?
Jack spilled the beans And instead of a beanstalk, a ladder sprung up. He looked up and saw the ladder disappearing into the fluffy clouds
Martin Hanley
He was afraid of the witch who was stirring the cauldron in the house so he ran up to the ladder and climbed .His arms were getting tired but he knew he had to save those children so he kept on going When he got to the clouds he saw a shop. A sports shop. There was a man inside ‘A tennis racket please’ said Jack ‘No- get out of my shop!’ said the man Jack stole the tennis racket and put on his disguise A balaclava He found the witches big white sparkly house and climbed in the window. He heard her footsteps, turned around and banged her on the head The children jumped out of the cauldron. They were crying. Jack gave them a sweet and they calmed down Jack had saved them Martin Hanley
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Purple is a royal colour Violets grow in the garden Purple signifies kingship Purple is like thunder Dolores McKeever
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Violet Like the dark blue sea A ship is out there on the water The storm is coming The sailors jump over board I am afraid they will be swept away Martin O’Connor
The violet is a wave And a wonderful sky It makes me smile when I walk by the seaside The wind blowing my hair The colour violet everywhere I go I dreamt the colour of violet I hear the violets singing Melissa Fox
Peace
I Am Fire
Peace is something You can enjoy living it And loving romance I love life
I go up in flames When you left the candles flickering I broke the trees when I burned through the park I am the fire below the old witch’s cauldron Bursting through the night sky
Peace helps you relax Taking your mind off things Your guardian angel looking down on you Making you feel so special Melissa Fox
I Am The Earth I hear kids laughing And being happy I am the earth Happiness is everywhere I am the earth whistling through the clouds Playing in the trees The sun setting Making the earth move
I come out of nowhere with nowhere to escape to I am fire that crashes through the waves of the sea Steaming in volcanoes Fire shadows crashing and windows smashing Come to me blasting With gasping hot fire breath Popping for mints in the mouth. Melissa Fox
I am the earth roaring through the breeze Coming towards me Drumming with lightness Helping us to love god Being healthy and loving people I love everything. Melissa Fox
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