Brave little Evie

[Pete]

Evie Clarke was 8 years old when she died this year of a brain tumour.
She lived in my home town but I didnt know about her until some of her poems appeared in our local paper. A few weeks later they appeared in a national paper.
Evie wrote more than 30 poems to cheer up her friends and family and to keep herself going as she battled against the illness and the treatment.
28 of these poems were collected and made into a book of which the print of 1000 copies soon sold out with proceeds to the hospital.
7 of the poems were printed in the papers and I thought I would share them here as they deserve to be read by as many people as possible.

I Go Dizzy

I go dizzy in the morning,
I go dizzy after lunch,
I go dizzy after tea time.
I walk into the door
And end up on the floor.

Pop

I have a giant appetite,
I'm full up to the top,
If I eat more,
I'm sure I'll go pop.


I Jiggled It

I jiggled it,
Jaggled it,
Jerked it,
I pushed it,
Pulled it,
Poked it.
But just when I wanted
to leave it alone,
My tooth came out on
its very own.


Irritating Indigestion

The pain it comes just after food,
It puts my mum into a mood,
I feel I want to scream and shout,
So Indigestion please come out.

It makes me burp but I do not care,
If you sit next to me just beware -
Sit with me if you dare.

You will blow away to the moon
and back.
I really only want a snack.


Off My Medicine

Now I'm off my medicine,
I'm not so hot and stuffy,
I feel as if I'm slim now,
And not so big and puffy.



Mighty Meat

Lamb Chops, Chicken Legs, Beef and Kidney Pie
I like to eat a lot of meat,
It makes me wonder why

It may be because of my medicine
It may be because of my drugs

I like getting all my kisses
I like getting all my hugs


MRI(scans)

The MRI, the MRI,
'Who'd have thought four?' said I,
Two awake and two asleep,
Mum stands by to have a peep.
Don't worry mum,
There's no need to weep.
Watch a film on TV.
Mum says: 'It'll soon be over Evie'.

[Taigaku]

What can you say?

Beautiful, and so sad. An exceptional human being. A wise old child.

Thanks, Pete, for sharing these poems with the rest of us.

[lizzytysh]

Dear Pete ~

These are so clear and so beautiful. Children's coping mechanisms and bright view of the world so often surpass our own, even in the most dire of situations. As Taigaku has already said, reading these is so sad, as we know the outcome of Evie's struggle. Yet, along with the sadness, there they are, still filled with her own, childlike joy, wonder, and appreciation of the life she did have.

I would very much like to have a copy of the 28 poems if you have, or can get them. Xerox copies would be fine. My friend works as an art therapist on the children's cancer ward in the "Arts in Medicine" program at Shand's Hospital in Gainesville. She would love to be able to take these poems there. You're right that they should be shared with as many as possible.

Thank you so much for sharing this little girl's heart with us. She was an angel then, and she's an angel now.

Love, Elizabeth

[Pete]

Elizabeth,
I havent seen the other poems but await a second print of the book.
I'll let you know when I find it. Being local I should be able to locate a copy or two. Take care.

Taigaku
I'm gald you appreciated them. I wasnt sure whether to post them or not but your comments justify it.

Pete

[MariannePettersson]

Thank you Pete. And thanks to Evie for the poems. Thank you Evies parents.

love,Marianne (I think Evie still is writing........in heaven)

[Makera]

THANK you, Pete~

She can continue to touch and inspire through your thoughtful posting here.

~Makera

[Pete]

I went to the bookshop today and added my name to the list of people waiting for the second print.

Pete


More information about Evie in this link below. She only had 4 months from diagnosis. She leaves behind a twin sister. So sad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derb ... 091730.stm

[Pete]

I'm not sure how long the above link will hold the story so apologies if it changes to something totally different.
Pete

[lizzytysh]

Dear Pete ~

Such a short time for giving to the world in the way she did with her poetry, while adjusting to her own dilemma. Her being a twin adds so many unexpected layers to the situation ~ questions of how her remaining sibling experienced Evie's illness and loss, and how she's now experiencing and processing going on without her. I wonder if she's having her own plagueing fears of whether she will share Evie's fate. I have to believe she's still feeling the ongoing connection in ways we'll never know. Dreams and very real contact, in ways reserved for twins only. A shared consciousness that must be so difficult with the other body-manifest of Evie now missing and missed.

Thank you for the link. I've printed the article to accompany the book for the hospital. Such a beautiful, joyful little girl!

Love, Elizabeth

[lizzytysh]

Hi Pete ~

I had to come back and tell you of a synchronicity that just occurred. Sohbet mentioned on another thread the interest he finds in these. So do I. After I finished the above post, I returned to my work and completed the task I was in the midst of. I then inputted the next social security number, and was pleasantly startled to see the last name of "Evey." Do I believe in messages from the other side, that come unsolicited? Yes. Hi Evie ~ I'm happy to see you're doing well .

Love,
Elizabeth