Ode to the Chimes

Below is Mum’s ode to the Mornington Centre’s never-ending bell system for patient attention. The ding ding ding of the chime never seems to stop and usually means patients need to be toiletted or cleaned (although Mum’s roommate Irene also presses it because she wants another pillow, or the blind changed or, often, because she wants to check the button is working).

The nurse referred to in the poem, Jess, is a great nurse and so is Kelly who was on this morning. Mum has asked us to buy both of them soaps as a present to help them with the disgusting job they have to do.

Mum wrote this poem verbally the other day and I transcribed it – with a little bit of editing. Mum, of course, cannot read or write at this stage. Her brain damage means she tries to read words right to left instead of left to right and has to re-train her brain. She is making progress with this but, as with most things, it will take time.

Ode to the Chimes

If at anytime

You hear that friendly little chime

Don’t answer it no matter what you do

It means jobs you’d never want to do

You might think the bell sounds glad

But the tale behind it is quite sad

It sings of problems of bowels and bladder

None of these will make you gladder

You must find a team of four

Before you walk through that door

Slipsheets, wipes and creams as well

If your team do face that fateful bell

Or leave it to Jess like the rest of us do

She has friends who are very helpful and true

She and Kelly will make it their job for the day

All will be done by this team right away