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Ride Free

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Artist Name - Ride-Free-a-poem-by-Nicholas-Mackey-19-May-2022-1.m4a
 

Covid Memorial Wall London 24 July 2021 

Love
Love always
Love you Mum
I love you Daddy
Love children
Love you till forever
To my diamond in the sky, I love you

 

Wear a mask Wash your hands
Care home residents Lewisham
To all the patients of Epsom & St Helier Hospital
NHS workers are 4 life not just 4 Covid
Thank you NHS Love you NHS
All affected by the virus
We love you miss you we lost our world

 

I love you to the moon and back
I love you 300,000,000 times
To All We Love To All Fighters!
Forever in my heart and always on my mind
Precious memories
Death takes a heart that no one can heal
Love makes memories that no one can steal

 

You were young, gifted and black
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name
You are the light of my life
Shine on G man you crazy diamond
No matter what
Love always
For all those who died alone and for the families who never got to say goodbye

 

So many flashbacks not near enough wishes
For all the staff lost in the Chelsea and Westminster (Hospital) RIP
Vax 4 our kids No Vax 4 our kids
To all victims of Covid-19 worldwide we will remember you always with love
More than 1.1 million people still battling post-Covid Syndrome
Never forget
My heart is broken

 

All for life and love

 

Lockdown 20.03.2020
Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a h-anam*
May Allah forgive your sins
Vladimir 16.08.86 – 30.11.20, aged 34 years
Connie 04.12.32 – 03.05.20, aged 87 years, Bye for now
Rest in peace for all those lost in care homes
Big Sis, Little Bruv misses you

 

Wicked sense of humour
All this fuss over me LOL Bloody rediculus
Gorgeous Grandmother I love you
What would Trevor do?
Biff taken in his prime
Mum fell asleep Valentines Day 2021
Naupani @ heaven.com

 

Bless
NHS
Forever
Hubby
Chaos
RIP
They say that time heals. But time has stood still. Love you lots. I got you Babe

 

Love you, you changed my life, I wouldn’t be where I am without you
Our amazing Superman
You’ll never be forgotten Our hardworking beautiful young Grandma we all love you and we miss you
Still the backbone of the family
our star
Sorry I couldn’t say goodbye
Thank you Whipps Cross nurses you saved my life

 

Sleep tight
Beloved rapper
Beautiful Soul
A true shaker
Not forgotten
Miss you everyday
Ride free

 

 

*Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a h-anam (Irish); translation: may her soul be at the right hand of God

 


Adapted from the writings on the National Covid Memorial Wall, London; seen Sunday morning, 24th July 2021.

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Comments 8

 
Rosy Cole on Friday, 29 April 2022 23:18

Title well chosen! The best memento last. Says so much about the one gone and the one grieving. Thanks for this.

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Title well chosen! The best memento last. Says so much about the one gone and the one grieving. Thanks for this.
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Nicholas Mackey on Wednesday, 04 May 2022 14:00

We lost two family members to Covid. Meanwhile, another close relative was very seriously ill with it - thankfully, now recovered. It seemed as if our modern version of the Plague had come to dwell amongst us. I felt I had to make a pilgrimage to the Covid Memorial Wall. I owed it to those who had suffered. I summoned up the courage one early Sunday morning in summer last year taking my camera and notebook. I thought I'd spend a short while there. In truth, I was deeply moved by what I saw on that Covid Memorial Wall which is next to St. Thomas' Hospital and opposite the Houses of Parliament. I stayed for more than three hours. I filled pages and pages of my notebook with the inscriptions I had seen on the Wall. I also took many photos. Later, on the way home in the bus, the idea of a poem popped into my head as I read through the notes I'd made. I thought, "Wouldn't it be a good thing to commemorate all those who have suffered because of Covid by writing a poem based on the writings on the Memorial Wall I'd come across." By the time I had reached the end of my journey, the poem had formed itself in my mind. When I got home, I wrote it down as the poem poured out of me. I hope 'Ride Free' serves as a suitable tribute to all those who died, suffered or were affected by Covid.
As always, Rosy, I appreciate your kind words and the work you do for us writers.

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We lost two family members to Covid. Meanwhile, another close relative was very seriously ill with it - thankfully, now recovered. It seemed as if our modern version of the Plague had come to dwell amongst us. I felt I had to make a pilgrimage to the Covid Memorial Wall. I owed it to those who had suffered. I summoned up the courage one early Sunday morning in summer last year taking my camera and notebook. I thought I'd spend a short while there. In truth, I was deeply moved by what I saw on that Covid Memorial Wall which is next to St. Thomas' Hospital and opposite the Houses of Parliament. I stayed for more than three hours. I filled pages and pages of my notebook with the inscriptions I had seen on the Wall. I also took many photos. Later, on the way home in the bus, the idea of a poem popped into my head as I read through the notes I'd made. I thought, "Wouldn't it be a good thing to commemorate all those who have suffered because of Covid by writing a poem based on the writings on the Memorial Wall I'd come across." By the time I had reached the end of my journey, the poem had formed itself in my mind. When I got home, I wrote it down as the poem poured out of me. I hope 'Ride Free' serves as a suitable tribute to all those who died, suffered or were affected by Covid. As always, Rosy, I appreciate your kind words and the work you do for us writers.
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Rosy Cole on Wednesday, 11 May 2022 19:29

So sorry to learn of your losses, Nicholas. Covid can be a cruel and overwhelming disease. It's strange, though, how grief and sorrow sharpens insight and inspiration, a consoling sign, I think, that there are no endings.

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So sorry to learn of your losses, Nicholas. Covid can be a cruel and overwhelming disease. It's strange, though, how grief and sorrow sharpens insight and inspiration, a consoling sign, I think, that there are no endings.
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Nicholas Mackey on Sunday, 15 May 2022 21:19

Thank you, Rosy. Your generosity of spirit is much appreciated.

During Covid times, I also put together a photo essay entitled, 'there's light at the end of the tunnel'. Please see: https://phmuseum.com/nmackey/story/there-s-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-a7b73ee96e

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Thank you, Rosy. Your generosity of spirit is much appreciated. During Covid times, I also put together a photo essay entitled, 'there's light at the end of the tunnel'. Please see: https://phmuseum.com/nmackey/story/there-s-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-a7b73ee96e
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Rosy Cole on Wednesday, 18 May 2022 17:13

Thanks so much for the link, Nicholas. I'm a great advocate of the value of journaling for getting things in perspective. We do well to focus on those things that 'kick start future light-filled pathways'. As a side note: Two days after you completed this essay, I had life-saving surgery for something that had nothing to do with Covid. I'm in fine fettle, but making the most of 'today' is my creed.

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Thanks so much for the link, Nicholas. I'm a great advocate of the value of journaling for getting things in perspective. We do well to focus on those things that 'kick start future light-filled pathways'. As a side note: Two days after you completed this essay, I had life-saving surgery for something that had nothing to do with Covid. I'm in fine fettle, but making the most of 'today' is my creed.
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Nicholas Mackey on Thursday, 19 May 2022 12:06

I'm really sorry to learn of your need for such vital medical care, Rosy. I sincerely hope you have made a good recovery since and continue to enjoy rude health for eons to come.

Agree entirely about the need to live every day to the full, if possible. Carpe diem has been a motto of mine for yonks. Onwards and upwards.

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I'm really sorry to learn of your need for such vital medical care, Rosy. I sincerely hope you have made a good recovery since and continue to enjoy rude health for eons to come. Agree entirely about the need to live every day to the full, if possible. Carpe diem has been a motto of mine for yonks. Onwards and upwards.
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Rosy Cole on Thursday, 19 May 2022 18:40

Thank you! "Onwards and upwards!" That's exactly what my surgeon kept saying, bless her. It was a complex procedure and some species or miracle to have come safely through.

Thanks for the audio you have added which has brought the piece even more vividly to life.

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Thank you! "Onwards and upwards!" That's exactly what my surgeon kept saying, bless her. It was a complex procedure and some species or miracle to have come safely through. Thanks for the audio you have added which has brought the piece even more vividly to life.
Cancel Update Comment
Nicholas Mackey on Friday, 20 May 2022 19:31

May you always be healthy, Rosy.

I appreciate the facility of your website which enables audio recordings and pictures to be added.

Many thanks.

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May you always be healthy, Rosy. I appreciate the facility of your website which enables audio recordings and pictures to be added. Many thanks.
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Latest Comments

Nicholas Mackey Ride Free
20 May 2022
May you always be healthy, Rosy.I appreciate the facility of your website which enables audio record...
Rosy Cole Ride Free
19 May 2022
Thank you! "Onwards and upwards!" That's exactly what my surgeon kept saying, bless her. It was a co...
Nicholas Mackey Ride Free
19 May 2022
I'm really sorry to learn of your need for such vital medical care, Rosy. I sincerely hope you have ...
Rosy Cole Ride Free
18 May 2022
Thanks so much for the link, Nicholas. I'm a great advocate of the value of journaling for getting t...
Rosy Cole Musical Dimensions
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Ah, J S Bach, God's coder of harmony!