calmkate

purpose

Edith Cavell and Nancy Clee
represent to me
the women who nursed
soldiers in a war so cursed

damaged men with wounds
both physical and mental
psychic scars too deep
disillusionment did creep

they lost faith
faith in any religion
faith in humanity
edging them toward insanity

but those wondrous women
went to great lengths
to share their inner strengths
calmly helping and healing

resource challenged
they never lost sight
of the wounded’s plight
giving with all their might

those nurses rose to their task
burying traumatic pain with a mask
healed trauma by staying active
their inner warmth was attractive

led full lives with purpose
best way to heal is to help others
volunteer, visit, keep growing
goodness and love surely flowing

31 comments

  3. kaykuala

    led full lives with purpose
    best way to heal is to help others
    volunteer, visit, keep growing
    goodness and love surely flowing

    Your last stanza seals off the ultimate blessings for all the front-liners, calmkate! They really give their all!

    Hank

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I was moved by your poem. A tribute to many nameless volunteerparamedics and carers of the injured. Respect for your grandmother, worthy of immortalizing her volunteer attitude. Best regards

    Liked by 1 person

  9. The women who go extra mile to work for humans. I feel proud of them. They are the inspiration and motivation that humanity can be revived if love is spread with no conditions attached.
    Thank you for reminding about them with your wonderful poem.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. A great poem Kate.
    This is the good side of social media as we get to learn about so many great people irrespective of gender, religion and land. I love stories about ordinary people doing great job for the sake of humanity. I shall send you some screen shots.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Wow, Kate, I have yet to read a lovelier tribute than this.

    And I love the flow of this, especially:

    they lost faith
    faith in any religion
    faith in humanity
    edging them toward insanity

    -David

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Like others above – an inspirational piece – thanks for introducing me to Edith Cavell and your grandmother. There’s something about nursing – which, above medicos and surgeons is so admirable. You’ve captured this so well here.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. What powerful poignant poem, SweetKate! I add my love to honor to this post…to thank Edith Cavell and Nancy Clee!!!
    So many like them have served, given, helped, encouraged, saved lives, etc., and they are rarely honored. They are true angels AND heroines!
    Even if we are not nurses by profession….we can follow their example and reach out to people who are lonely, confused, anxious, fearful, etc. during the “wars” of life. Let’s do Edith and Nancy proud by being caring and giving women! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂
    PS…the cartoon made me snort-laugh…poor kitty-cat! 😉

    Liked by 5 people

  21. It is only in recent years that the psychological trauma of non-combat auxiliary personnel has been recognized… The nurses were often the ones who held the sanity of the soldiers together. Their dedication to saving lives – even at the risk of their own deserves greater attention!!

    Liked by 4 people

  22. My grandma was a nurse in the war and though she found it traumatic she even stayed with a wounded soldier during a bombing raid. Your poem is a fitting tribute to such women!

    Liked by 3 people

  26. This is really an amazing piece, Kate.
    A war’s brutality goes beyond those who becomes part of it as war ravages the generations upon generations, in the most cruel manner.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. This lovely poem made me aware of something I hadn’t known about, and should have known about. I was able to find a lot of information about Edith Cavell, but nothing I could be sure of about Nancy Clee. Could you explain who she is? Even Google couldn’t help me for someone by her name of that time during WW1.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Nancy Clee was my grandmother … many did the same work but only a few became famous. She met my grandfather while nursing him in London – wose injured in France were shipped over to UK.

      Liked by 2 people

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