"Paddys Life"

Paddy...oh how i loved the man
but we were the only ones
no brothers, sisters, aunts
no parents, no daughter, no son
nobody phoned to see how he was
no-one ever sent a card
locked away for years in asylums
his life had been so hard
when Paddy came into our care
his soul had been destroyed
starved of love and affection
his heart was just a void
locked away in his autistic world
away from human touch
70 years institutionalised,
the hurt was all too much
when he came to us at first
he could`nt sit to eat a meal
so used to having to grab and run
before someone could steal.
but slowly, with tenderness
he learned to trust, feel free
he would never have to fight again
he let us help him see
that not all human touch
would be a cruel assault
that he wasn`t going to be punished
and a broken cup was not his fault
for the first time in all his life
he was safe to sleep
he could express himself
his possessions were his to keep
he learned to hug and smile
and to give a goodnight kiss
he learned that a hand could sooth
as well as make a fist
the reward from seeing him
flower and grow
was like no other happiness
I will ever know
ten happy years isn`t much
after seventy years of pain
and I wish I could give him
his whole life to live again
to give this special man
all he should have had
to make it all good for him
and erase all the bad
Paddy you have left us now
gone to heaven above
may god bless you and keep you
surrounded for eternity by his love.

©2003 LCB