My Friend The Quad

My Friend The Quad

© 1990 by Bud Lemire

 

This is a poem for my Quadriplegic friend Bob

Who says "it's slicker than snot on a brass door knob"

I met him first on June 1, 1988, but that was then

I started caring for him, but not as a friend

At the beginning he'd let his temper fly

It made me nervous, but I really did try

But times, they did change, for the both of us

He was a happier person, without causing a fuss

In time we got to know each other much better

He'd have me do errands, one was addressing a letter

I'd do his night time exercises, which were quite a lot

We'd talk about what we liked, and what we liked not

He'd fall asleep, under the covers in the bed

And be fast asleep, on the last word he said

Then there were times, when his wheelchair broke

Being stranded without power, is no kind of joke

Going to college, was his next really big step

Earning him a weekend, watching TV's Johnny Depp

At school he learned of new subjects, and made many friends

Entering a world of knowledge, where the learning never ends

He spent many hours in his study, just off the living room

Sweeping over the books, as if he wielded a broom

Drinking a hot chocolate, with almost everything he ate

Watching the clock and front door, so he wouldn't be late

Then along comes the bus, to take him away

It's another class, at the college of Little Bay

Edna in the back, and Lonna up the stairs

Neighbors of his, and friendship that he shares

Donna and Bud, caregivers who come and go

Many other people stop in, just to say hello

All in all he's lucky, to have so many friends

He's one of mine, and so this poem ends

This is for my friend Bob Miller. I took care

of him at bedtime from 1988 until he passed

away in 2012 (with a little break from 2002

to 2004).