A visit from The Healing Muse: 'The Refugees'

Deirdre Neilen, PhD: Sylvia O'Connor is a Syracuse poet and writer whose poem "The Refugees" asks us to reconsider our stereotypes of assisted-living facilities, the people who live there and especially the stories of how they got there.

"The Refugees"

Ann extends an empty palm, offering

the life she left just one month ago

before coming to the Home.

I was very sick, she said.

Only one month gone and all

my things distributed.

My daughter says I don't need

those things anymore,

my favorite things.

She packed my life

into a powerboat.

I sit as on the beach of an island

in my wheelchair.

I am a refugee.

We are all refugees here.

I could bring only a few

of my things with me.

Just one month ago

they took me to the hospital.

Late at night they came.

Now, I will live out my life here,

but I want you to know that

just one month ago I had

beautiful things --

I had a beautiful life.