A Collection of Love Poems Written By Dr. Bernie Siegel
– by Tera Warner
During the recent WISH Summit interview with Dr. Bernie Siegel, he shared a story about a poem that he wrote for his wife on the subject of his having put tomatoes in the refrigerator. I thought you might appreciate reading that poem yourself. Also, Bernie sent me pages and pages of his personal poems, and I’ve included many of them here below. Enjoy, and please do send a message to the dear man to let him know how much you loved and appreciated his contributions to our WISH Summit!
Divorce
tomatoes don’t belong in the refrigerator
i did it again
my wife may never forgive me
our marriage is on the rocks
i snore, put tomatoes in the fridge
walk and eat too fast
the divorce lawyer doesn’t know how to help us
reach a valid settlement for my cruelty
he suggests we try to work it out
give love a chance
and don’t put tomatoes in the fridge
i read his settlement to my wife
she laughs
i love her when she laughs
and forget the difficult times
we fire the lawyer
and take the tomatoes out of the fridge
A Beautiful Day
every day is a beautiful day
the white clouds, blue sky and warm January sun
all my senses say it is a beautiful day
no philosophy or psychology
just the physical beauty
my senses are in charge today
bathe in them
thanks again god
I needed a soul cleansing
Start
start now
not thinking about it
but doing it
once you’ve begun
it all changes
no more thinking and scheduling
we are in it now
doing, working, living
life makes its own schedule
if we live start living it now
Forgiveness
life hurts
people act out of their pain and create more pain
you cannot change anyone else
stop explaining, trying, bandaging
forgive and spread the healing salve
love, forgive, accept
it feels better
now the cause of the pain will not know what to do
or how to cause you any more pain
Kissie Buggies
kissee buggies
my wife gives them
they are better than kisses
they are softer, more loving
just think about being kissed
or receiving a kissee buggie
no question which i’d go for
Day
a beautiful day
warm sun, clear sky, nature glistens
thank you for warming me
I will try to shine and share the warmth and beauty
you have given me today
I accept it and rejoice in it
Communication
is there anything else you need?
how may I help you?
would you care for a magazine?
people do not mean what they say
yes, I have many needs
I can count the ways you can help
yes, I want a magazine
but they do not give me what I need
or help me, or give me a magazine
that is why I prefer animals
they communicate with honesty
a growl, a lick, a purr,
I know what they mean
Farms and Cities
I fly over the farmland
an abstract artist painted them
beautiful lines, curves, greens, browns
the beauty of creation lies beneath me
the homes fit between the lines
lost in the beauty of the earth
I fly over the city
straight lines, square boxes, lined up like soldiers
it hurts my eyes to see what we have done
nature has no room
please scatter the houses
make room for the earth to blossom
Today
today was quiet and peaceful
I wasn’t going anywhere
I was just being me
everywhere I went I found myself
God it feels good to be me
that’s a change from
the old me who wouldn’t have agreed
he was busy doing things
and never knew how to take a nap
I’m good at that
I have some great teachers like my wife
I need to listen to her
after all, she is a kindergarten teacher
and is used to my attention span
Green
we need green in our lives
something alive, growing, warm, hopeful
the sun, a plant, a hand, a word
green and warm us
we grow and live
until it grows dark
Touchdown
we will be on the ground shortly the pilot says
the clouds look soft and welcoming
but then one returns to earth
wheels touch down smoke rises
feet land on the hard ground
perhaps if we touch each other
lie down together
stand together
live together
our feet will feel the difference
as the world grows soft
Winter
winter arrives
the trees huddle for warmth
their branches intertwine
they touch each other
they are family
winter arrives
the houses are shut
we are alone
we do not reach out for one another
the lines are drawn
no one crosses over and touches
it is cold
nature reaches out, blends, caresses
there are no straight lines
there are no boundaries
we are one
when it is time to weather the cold
we warm one another
houses burn trees to keep warm
but it is not enough
making a fire does not warm a home
ask a tree why it cannot warm you by burning
nature has all the answers
Alone
one is always and never alone
alone yes, no physical company
alone no, I have myself and something more
I have something I cannot see
or name or feel or describe
like a child I have it all
to hold and play with
the only thing I am alone with
are my thoughts and you
Myself
I found out who I am last night
I held my beloved so close that her skin became my skin
I realize we are one and that I do not like parts of me
that’s why I said my beloved and not my beliked
I love my new self
two as one have twice as many parts to love
but you cannot expect all the parts to work all the time
I don’t stop loving my car when it won’t start
so i’ll love my new self
we are one
all the parts are mine to love
i’m sure i’ll have moments I don’t like what I love
I won again, we are one
and in love with one’s self
Orgasm
it’s not in your body
that the orgasm needs to take place
it’s in your mind
a new idea
a new thought
God is delighted
it’s a cosmic event
yes!
New Dimensions
new dimensions is an oxymoron
how can you have a new dimension
a dimension is a dimension
they have all been here since creation
oh, new dimensions
what opens you to a new dimension
my spirit and my soul grow each time
I experience and create a new dimension
so I was wrong
that’s a rare new dimension
For Give Ness
forgiveness
a word holding peace within it
and yet it speaks of giving
perhaps that is why it takes a God to forgive
to heal yourself and others
in one moment
but can you forget
not if within you there is a need
God has no needs so he can forgive
and forget what you remember
can we approach the stature of a deity
have it all within
and forgive for God’s sake
Thanks
thanks
someone said thanks
i’ve done it
i’ve touched another’s life
i’ve completed my mission
I fly on to touch down in other lives
until the day I run out of life
and become one with eternity and light
I am in all lives now
Questions
why?
there is no universal answer
you have to find your answer
and your question
maybe it isn’t a question
maybe it’s a gift you need to experience
not a burden to carry
but a gift to rejoice in
then there are no whys, no questions, no conflicts
just life with gifts
that sometimes don’t fit or may cause pain when we try them on
and others that make us feel comfortable because
we have the answer
to the question that never existed
now do you understand why?
Faith
i’ll awaken from sleep
the sun will rise
there is a reason for everything
will I ever know the reason?
not in this life
not while awake
having faith seems to be what it is about
faith, hope and love
well two out of three isn’t too bad
maybe it is better not to wake up
Why
why am I like this?
why are you like that?
why are things this way?
because
because why?
because we are created this way
why are we created this way?
God knows why
Nomads
nomads, natives, wanderers
carriers of life’s precious elements
they know what holds value
the earth, the sky, people, fish, animals, plants, insects
all that God created is good but man is not complete
we accumulate things, build things, save things
what a load to carry on your life’s journey
we are bent and slowed by the weight
let go of the things
learn from the wanderers
the diamonds and pearls will now be there for you to see
Pennies
a penny is a great teacher
full of wisdom and value
look at its face
abraham shows us the sadness of an unchanging image
liberty gives us the freedom to be godlike in our way
God, in whom I know we can trust
how do I know?
I know who leaves pennies for me to find
now it’s up to you
toss it
does it land heads or tails?
pennies from heaven
The Weight of the World
I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders
no matter, never mind
today I am atlas, hercules and samson
the weight is no burden
it enlightens my soul
in an instant I understand all
the still small voice speaks
through the eyes of a bird
sitting on my shoulder
did he know he was needed?
did he know I was prepared for the burden?
no matter, never mind
all that matters is mind
Mirror
who is the guy in the mirror?
I don’t know
does he know?
let me look in his eyes
pretty blue eyes
sad eyes
I like your I’s
I will take your I’s home with me
twinkle eyes
pretty blue eyes
sad eyes
you and I’s
the I’s eyes have it
Imagine
each day a gift
what does it take to appreciate a gift?
it takes going beyond now and yourself
to a new place free of things
like the Beatles’ song says, Imagine
just imagine not waking up to who you are
not seeing, not hearing, moving, breathing
a fetus
imagine
imagine the day a gift
and full of imagination
when you do you will leave the womb
Hello God
I am told prayer, meditation and service
will bring me into a direct relationship with God
heavy stuff, doesn’t feel poetic
maybe I’ll just talk to God
Tevye did it
Lily Tomlin says that’s called prayer
of course she also says if God talks to you it’s called schizophrenia
I guess i’m crazy then because God and I are buddies and on talking terms
we call on each other whenever we need a friend to talk to
God scares a lot of people
they can’t listen because they want something
I have everything so God isn’t afraid to call on me
and me on Him
Perfect
God didn’t ask my wife to be perfect
I did
so I ought to be perfect and set an example
well there goes my plan
I’d rather tell her how to be perfect
but then she tells me about my imperfections
well there goes my plan again
I guess God was right
His plan is easier
just give them free will and life
because perfection is not creation
and don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed
Wisdom and Faith
the world is full of pain
I am told one can understand or have faith
who can understand
I am no God
I have faith
faith in creation
faith in our Creator
faith in my fellow faithful
Should We Argue or Make Love?
shall we have an argument or make love?
there are benefits to both
if we argue I can show you how smart and right I am
I can yell and sulk and turn away and try to sleep
now that I won the argument
and I always win
if we love there are no words equal to the feeling
we both sleep in peace
there are no losers
only winners
who have given their winnings away
I see the answer to my question is
let’s make love
A Beautiful Burden
if you don’t go i’ll have a heavy heart
if you do go i’ll have a hernia
my wife and I often travel together
we are a team sharing fair and foul weather
at times our travel takes us into the air
I carry all the luggage in order her back to spare
i’ve heard love makes one’s burden lighter
but Bobbie’s bags would burst if packed any tighter
so I brave the chance of a hernia
since she makes my day much brighter
i’ve learned from traveling alone
that the load is really no lighter
for a lonely heart weighs much more than a bag
which can’t be packed any tighter
Leaving a Part of Me Behind
I kissed myself good bye this morning
no I am not self centered
I am more than me
I and another are one
our clay has been sculpted for so long
that we are an inseparable creation
my other parts enable and disable but they are me
so I kiss me good bye
next time I will be more passionate
I deserve a good kiss
no peck on the cheek
wait till I get home
to the rest of me
It will feel so good to be whole again
and in love with my whole self
Holy Shit
Dad are you working on a new book?
yes, it’s spiritual
call it Holy Shit
we laughed
and then I knew
life is no human comedy
it is holy shit
disease, death, despair
all the compost we learn from and are nourished by
which makes us complete
we become whole
we become holy
shit!
I wish I had thought of it first
Coming Apart Going
I do not have it all together
my life is more than I am
it has many I ams
my I am is coming apart
at the I ams
I am is me
I am is you
I am you are we
now I have my I am together
can’t you see who and why I am
Jonah, I, The Whale and 911
from the bowels of hell I cried out
and you heard my voice Jonah
I called out from the darkness
I did not dial 911
they don’t make whale calls
I called out
from the depths of my soul
I made no sound
yet he heard my cry of despair
I called out
and was saved
my prayers were answered
thank you Jonah for giving me hope
Errands
errands, chores, who created the need
who makes out my schedule?
who fills the time?
who creates the pressure?
I wonder who
life you say
who chose this life?
you or me
I must be doing something right
everyone wants me
I guess I made the right choice after all
You Only Live Twice
you only live twice
once in your life
and once in your dreams
I don’t want to live twice
I want one life, mine and my dream
I won’t need a second chance
I have one life to live here and now
The Clock of Life
I rested my head on the chest of my wife
I heard her heart ticking away our life
how many beats in a lifetime
I wish I could slow the pace
so I could listen to her heart beat forever
how precious the sound
a strong, regular beat
like our life
only an occasional skipped beat
then the regular rhythm returns
About Dr Bernie Siegel
Dr. Siegel, who prefers to be called Bernie, retired from practice as an assistant clinical professor of surgery at Yale, and of general and pediatric surgery in 1989 to speak to patients and their caregivers. Bernie and his wife Bobbie have five children and eight grandchildren. For many, he needs no introduction as he has touched many lives all over the world. In 1986, his first book, Love, Medicine & Miracles was published. This event redirected his life. Peace, Love & Healing, How To Live Between Office Visits, Prescriptions for Living and 365 Prescriptions For The Soul followed. Buddy’s Candle is a book for children of all ages about dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Bernie embraces a philosophy of living and dying that stands at the forefront of the medical ethics and spiritual issues our society grapples with today. He continues to assist in the breaking of new ground in the field of healing and it is an honor and privilege to have him join us for WISH Summit.
Visit Bernie’s website here.
If you haven’t yet heard what Bernie had to share with the listeners of WISH, then make sure you’re signed up here to access the call for FREE!