These Are The Hands: Poems from the Heart of the NHS

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A Lovely Love Story” by Edward Monkton: This whimsical and charming tale of two dinosaurs falling in love is a fun and lighthearted choice for couples who want to add some humor and personality to their ceremony. Hands are one of the most expressive parts of the body, and they can say a lot about a person. These poems capture some of the many different ways hands can be used and interpreted. Whether you’re looking for a new way to describe your own hands or just want to appreciate the beauty of them, these poems are sure to touch your heart. What is your favorite poem about hands? These are the hands that through the years will caress your body in the passion of love, to enhance your intimacy. I just pulled this from our ceremony so it will have our names in it. I have read it several times and everytime I cry so I can't even bring myself to read the one you posted Reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours." - Vera Nazarian, "The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration"

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. Write these handprint poems on some handprint artwork or inside a card to make a special gift for someone special. This anthology offers a unique insight into the real experiences of the people at the heart of the NHS – from the student nurse at the start of his career to the heart surgeon on the eve of her retirement. We also hear the stories of those whose vital work is often unseen and unsung from domestic cleaning staff to sign language interpreters. The poems offer unflinchingly honest and intimate accounts from the people who care for us from the moment of birth to the end of life. In crystallising the most beautiful and painful moments of being human, they speak directly to all our experience. Above all these poems are about our shared humanity. They are about the compassion and care that lie at the heart of the NHS and in all our lives. They also serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of trying to offer compassionate care in a system that is underfunded and understaffed and the importance of showing the same compassion and support to the staff we depend on to hold the NHS together. Leading UK poets have donated poems to this anthology including Michael Rosen, Roger McGough, Lemn Sissay, Sabrina Mahfouz, Kate Clanchy, Sam Guglani, Charly Cox, Molly Case, Wendy Cope and the estates of UA Fanthorpe, Dannie Abse and Julia Darling. All proceeds from this book will go to NHS Charities Together which supports over 135 official NHS Charities raising money for NHS hospitals, ambulance services, community and mental health services across the UK. And your will shall decide your destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart and a share of all my possessions. I ask you to pass through life at my side -- to be my second self, and best earthly companion." - Mr. Rochester, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte BrontëThese are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness, disciplining them when naughty, and wringing themselves in worry when trouble comes. Whatever Jesus lays His hands upon lives. If He lays is hands upon a marriage, it lives. If He is allowed to lay His hands on the family, it lives." - Howard W. Hunter, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Several GPs have contributed to the anthology. I enjoyed the humour of Neil Alexander Douglas’s When I came to visit you in which the patient’s stuffed dog is still and welcoming, unlike the ‘muscled thud’ dripping saliva ‘like wet elastic’ that greets him on other visits. Both David Blane’s What more could we have done? and Wendy-Jane Walton’s Home Visit succinctly capture the different feelings that can accompany the death of a patient. In the first, the rhyme scheme and repetition emphasise the guilt the doctor experiences, whereas Walton’s poem deftly reminds us that patients have the right to die at home and we should respect their wishes.

May these hands be blessed that we see before us this day. May they always be held by one another. May they have the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May these hands continue building a relationship founded in love, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for perfection. May Christopher and Stephanie see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.Other Videos: you can see NHS Staff read their own poems in the anthology on the These Are The Hands youtube channel

THESE are the hands that will give you support knowing that together as a team everything you wish for can be realized. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning a wedding, but the ceremony itself is one of the most meaningful parts of the day. Choosing the perfect ceremony reading can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect reading for your big day. The Art of Marriage” by Wilferd Arlan Peterson: This poem is a classic choice for couples who want a meaningful and inspiring reflection on the nature of love and commitment in their ceremony. These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach until he too, feels his child stir within you.These are the hands that hold yours on your wedding day as she gives you her pledge to love you and accepts your ring. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart. It brings into sharp relief the diversity of challenges in healthcare. The range of conditions from cancer to childhood illnesses across the spectrum to mental health and end of life. So many issues are brought to consciousness via these poems.

The very heart of who we are and what we are here for. An exciting and wonderful book’ – Michael Rosen This is a truly wonderful anthology of over 100 poems from a wide range of people. Some are established poets, others are front line nurses, doctors and from many other professions including I’m pleased to say managers and administrators. These are the hands that will reach out, first to each other, then united, will spread your love and your sacrament to all they touch.

I re-run on my retina the Johnson rise to power. Alongside his bus-ad hoax, I see him standing on a soap-box outside a care home shouting, “Remember the Bard: ‘sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. We shall abolish the seventh age of man. What a relief for everyone concerned, eh?” Would that pitch have worked as well as “Get Brexit done?” Probably not. So how has it happened that the Johnson team have been able to get away with this murderous stuff? Look deeply into one another’s eyes, now, and promise to always see one another through the eyes of love. Still seeking the love, encouragement and support that each of you seeks from the other. Hands Ceremony 2 These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you. Alternatively, they are all available as printable versions for children to add their handprint to and decorate.