More Ostomy Memories

At the age of 77, I have lived my entire adult life with an ostomy. At 21, the surgery put me into shock. I suffered several months of PTSD before I’d even heard that term. But I eventually came out of it when I realized that by suffering my perceived strangeness, my deviancy, if you will, I was tilting at windmills. How could I be abnormal if there is no normal? It is a make-believe standard and overrated, at that. What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. It is entirely subjective. So I came out of my surgically-induced abyss, got used to it, and carried on.  Ultimately, if there was an inherent strength there, it was my sense of humor, paired with my common sense.  Clive James once wrote:  "Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds.  A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing."  So I'm still dancing, 56 years later.

Hello HenryM.

Thanks for this post, which opens up the opportunity for me to resurrect and share yet another almost-lost rhyme from the past:

Best wishes

Bill

RIP-COMMON SENSE.

As I accumulate the years.
I swell with melancholic tears.
I’ll tell you why I mourn today.
‘Cos common sense has passed away.

Common sense was a willing friend.
But modern trends have caused it’s end.
Its’ death a tragic sight to see.
Drowned in the great bureaucracy.

How did we get so out of touch.
When common sense taught us so much.
Let’s ponder on the lessons learned.
Before our common sense got burned.

It taught us to avoid most pain.
And come in from the pouring rain.
It told us life was rarely fair.
And yet it taught us still to care.

Common sense lived by simple rules.
Tolerate not the rules of fools.
A stitch in time will save you nine.
Maybe some faults are sometimes mine.

While unwise men will money burn.
The wise won’t spend more than they earn.
Much money may your spirits raise.
But have some saved for rainy days.

When common sense goes in decline.
The world gets ruled by Philistines.
Clots and idiots rule the land.
No wonder things are out of hand.

Without more sense, what is in store.
Kids can’t play conkers any more.
People go to court nowadays.
For suing is the thing that pays.

Burglars sue for common assault.
As if their crime was not their fault.
It must be you, it can’t be me.
Who takes responsibility?

With common sense came truth and trust.
Morality was more robust.
These things now feel like they’re treason.
In this world without much reason.

Now common sense is dead and gone.
Darkness shades where light once shone.
Now life’s full of risk you see.
Where once was opportunity.

Correctness gets quite idiotic.
When it depends on politics.
And it’s always been the same.
They will find someone to Blame.

I mourn the death of common sense.
I feel there is no recompense.
Common sense would give me hope.
Now all that’s left’s a horror-scope.

                                     B. Withers 2011

I love this verse.  Thanks for posting it.  I assume you mean "clods and idiots.."  This is a marvelous, sustained assault on our current malaise.  Stay well, Henry M

I love this verse. Thanks for posting it. I assume you mean "clods and idiots.." This is a marvelous, sustained assault on our current malaise. Stay well, Henry M

Hello HenryM. Just a note to say that over the pond here in the UK, we use the coloquial term 'clod' to represent a lump of earth or grass, whereas 'clot' is viewed as a stupid person. I did toy with using the word 'sods'  as an alternative derogative word, but it's sometimes difficult to squeeze them all into one poem. 

Best wishes

Bill 

Very interesting.  I guess "clod" has a secondary meaning of a stupid person here, which is the meaning I normally would give it.  Sorry, I thought "clot" was a typo.  Call me a clot if you like; I deserve it.  In any event, I really like your verse (I have penned my share).

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister