Poetry for Healing : Jill Berry Blog

On Wednesday of this week, I went to see my friend Nancy in the hospital. Nancy has a brain tumor. It has been a long haul for all of us who call her friend, since the dark day in January that she had a stroke, to now, when we know why. Just this week she can speak a bit.

My friends agreed to meet me at the hospital, since I am too chicken to go alone. Tom Parson, David Ashley, and I went to read poetry to Nancy. Tom wrote a book of poetry in 2001, and this year 12 of our friends decided to make a book of it, each of them doing one poem on letterpress. They bound the book together as an exchange, and now the last 18 of the edition of 30 will be used as a fundraiser for Nancy’s son Chance, who is 18, and currently has no mom at home.

I took some henna tattoos to do Nancy’s hands, which is about all she can see from her bed. When I told her what I brought (also some Girl Scout cookies, Thin Mints, which cure anything) she said “Tattoos are cool!” It was wonderful to hear her speak, and I knew she would love the tattoos.

This page is done by my friend Kay Moller, written by my other friend Tom, and read by yet another friend, David. Nancy listened and I could tell loved being read to.

Tom's-Poem We stayed and kept reading to Nancy for over an hour. It was profound, the joy she had in it, the joy we had in doing this. The poems were each perfect for the day, and I felt so honored to know these two wonderful men who would give their morning to a friend in this way.

As I was driving home I felt surrounded by grace, tragedy, friendship and hope. All those feelings crashed at me all the way home. The strongest feeling was that we all gave our friend Nancy the best we could give, and it was a wonder.

This is Nancy, in November, in Africa. She was there for a charity event that has to do with providing bicycles for girls. Before she went I helped her design a small book to take as a gift to her hosts. This is a good time gal.

Comments

3 Responses to “Poetry for Healing”

Jennifer White on February 19th, 2010 8:47 pm

I only wish I lived closer to you…I would go to the hospital with you so you’d have my support first hand. I continue to keep Nancy and her son in my prayers, Jill…and you as well…xo
Laura Stinson on February 20th, 2010 9:19 am

Lovely post, Jill. Who should we contact to buy copies of Tom’s book?
Lisa on February 20th, 2010 9:41 am

This is beautiful, Jill. Thank you for sharing.