Overview

"The Richness: Poetry about Old Age in the Twenty-First Century is an exploration of both the positive and negative experience of old age, focusing on the often unappreciated perks. The 83-year-old author has written her experiences in easy-to-access poetry. The book is divided into six sections: ""Coming Into Old Age,"" ""Moving into the Residential Retirement Home,"" ""Walking through Old Age,"" ""Deepening Spirituality,"" ""Completing Old Age,"" and ""A Note to Caregivers."" The first five sections of the book may be read as a simple collection of poems or a kind of poetic autobiography of the author's journey through this stage of her life. The author wrote the poems as she lived them. Section One, ""Coming into Old Age,"" records initial experiences: diminishment of physical abilities, the appearance of major illness, and new spiritual reflections. ""Moving into the Residential Retirement Home"" continues to focus on new experiences-pleasant ones like a dining room where the servers always remember ones' name and challenging ones like the death of a spouse. The third section, ""Walking through Old Age,"" contains poems about greater challenges along with surprising joys. Then, ""Deepening Spirituality"" contains a record of the kind of sacred moments that come to so many seniors during these years. ""Completing Old Age "" was originally meant to be the final section of the book-the record of an elder who has taken a long look back into a satisfied life, who sees it as the final piece of her whole existence. However, as the book was being put together, Aisha Sherie McGuffey, a chaplain who works with the elderly and their caregivers, saw a few of the poems. She had been looking for material that could be used in teaching caregivers how their elders felt about meeting the experiences of old age. She was so pleased at the effectiveness of these poems as teaching material that she wrote the final section, ""Message to Healthcare Workers,"" even including a sample lesson plan. Thus, the book may be simply enjoyed by anyone as entertainment, read as validating experiences by those who are elders, or used as a textbook in a teaching situation."

Full Product Details

9780971235199

Table of Contents

Reviews

"Mary Ber's book of poetry shows her journey through the different phases of aging, how she moved through many emotional challenges and found spiritual growth. For instance, in ""It's Over"" she mourns ""work significant enough to shape the planet."" These poems can be a wonderful companion reading for anyone experiencing this journey. I have personally learned so much about how age can be a gift from the Divine, and I am grateful to share some of her work with others. May it help all of us to be in even deeper understanding and compassion as we companion our elders in the later years. A'isha Sheri McGuffey, Chaplain The Richness is a book of lyric poetry that is offered as one woman's roadmap as she walks through the aging process. The feelings, physical challenges, wisdom, spiritual growth, and psychological insights of aging are shared effectively through the medium of poetry, which goes straight to the heart. Elders who enjoy poetry may identify with and draw comfort from recognizing commonalities in the journey. Professionals, family members and volunteers who work with elders will gain insights about the fears and worries, as well as the wisdom that naturally accompanies the process of aging and facing death, enabling them to better serve our elderly with greater compassion. Finally, The Richness may very well inspire an appreciation of the wisdom gained by our elders that might otherwise be lost. Finally, The Richness is a timely and seminal offering as our Baby Boomers move into old age. Maryam Hand, M.S."

Mary Ber's book of poetry shows her journey through the different phases of aging, how she moved through many emotional challenges and found spiritual growth. For instance, in It's Over she mourns work significant enough to shape the planet. These poems can be a wonderful companion reading for anyone experiencing this journey. I have personally learned so much about how age can be a gift from the Divine, and I am grateful to share some of her work with others. May it help all of us to be in even deeper understanding and compassion as we companion our elders in the later years. A'isha Sheri McGuffey, Chaplain The Richness is a book of lyric poetry that is offered as one woman's roadmap as she walks through the aging process. The feelings, physical challenges, wisdom, spiritual growth, and psychological insights of aging are shared effectively through the medium of poetry, which goes straight to the heart. Elders who enjoy poetry may identify with and draw comfort from recognizing commonalities in the journey. Professionals, family members and volunteers who work with elders will gain insights about the fears and worries, as well as the wisdom that naturally accompanies the process of aging and facing death, enabling them to better serve our elderly with greater compassion. Finally, The Richness may very well inspire an appreciation of the wisdom gained by our elders that might otherwise be lost. Finally, The Richness is a timely and seminal offering as our Baby Boomers move into old age. Maryam Hand, M.S.

Author Information

Mary H. Ber, M.A. has been writing poetry since she learned to write at age seven. A classroom teacher of literature and writing for over fifty years, she has also created literary magazines and assisted her students in getting published, thereby helping people bring themselves to voice. She is co-founder of award-winning Moon Journal Press and its editor for thirteen years. Now she lives in a senior retirement home in Tucson, Arizona, where she has been facilitating writing and discussion groups.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available