Evocation #21 Blessing Furniture

Days before you died you quipped,
“We finally got the furniture in the right place...”
“Wheelchairs have a way of clarifying the path” I returned.
The arrival of a dining table with its own stories
allowed us to share a final Christmas dinner with family.
These odes are blessings for furniture and equipment.

Table (for M’s grandma)
May laughter resound at this table of plenty.
May the lighting of candles spark words of grace.
May the bread recollect all who are broken.
May our shared wine flow as life-blood.
For those who have gathered at this table, we give thanks.
Among those who form the company today, we offer goodwill.
For those who are yet to come, we pray peace.

Wheelchairs 1 & 2
May the role of rolling be one of dignified accompaniment.
May mobility find us in concert halls and galleries.
May ramps be kind and carers be strong.
May bumpy paths be negotiated well.
May kindness bless when assistance is needed.
May worlds open up for joyful engagement.
May this chair offer comfort and security in an uncertain world.

[Note: T had 2 chairs. The first traveled all over the world. The second was bought only in his last 3 months, but was a comfortable upgrade and much safer for me, as it had handbrakes!]

Carry Belt

We hated you so much.

You looked so ugly, 

like a poor man’s straight jacket.

Yet - you enabled us to stay at home.

Thank you.

When it became too hard to stand 

and too difficult to hold hands,

You allowed us to embrace in new ways 

and accomplish life even for a few days.

Thank you.

Forgive me my judgment and hatred.

Go in peace.

May you offer life again for others.

Stick

Better known as ‘cattle-prod’...

Also offered as sword-fighting implement...

Stick can be both friend and foe, 

helpful some days, 

getting in the way on others.

Collapse when you must, 

get lost from time to time, 

stand strong...

Stand in place of a leg 

that kicked goals 

and accomplished tackles. 

Stand in place of the leg 

that cha cha-ed and waltzed.

Walk with one nicknamed ‘Walk Away’.

Keep mobility and independence possible. 

Bless the stick 

for walking 

and for optimism.

(C) A A Koh-Butler, 2020