Departure
Looking through the murky waters of time
— Constance Mussa
I strain to catch a glimpse of familiar images fading
But the clock begins its melodious chime
Chanting the hour – that moment filled with emotions parading
A kaleidoscope of feelings, so profound, my heart ponderously is beating
Warning me that time indeed is fleeting
I dare to hope I may have been a candle
Helping to shed some light as you make your way
Through the tangled web of knowledge and technology that so often you must handle
As you apply your skills from day to day
Trying to make a difference with a spirit of generosity
Even in the face of the greatest adversity
The future holds out her hands with mystery and allure
Beckoning us to enter her famous halls filled with things unknown
And so we each walk timidly toward her, treading cautiously as we try to make sure
Of our individual survival and well-being, certain we are walking all alone
Until we each look down at our path and see other footprints on it
Reminding us we are one in mind and spirit.
From Ashes To Glory
In the blink of an eye, four poisoned arrows came hurtling from the sky to savagely pierce our hearts
Deep within our souls — from a mortal, gaping wound, bleeding quickly starts.
We scream in anguish, we writhe in desperate pain
As images of terror, grotesquely inhumane,
Surround us from all corners and crush our spirits with spiteful glee.
We shudder and moan and shrink in revulsion as we wait for the gruesome images to flee
With deadened spirits we sink to the depths of despair,
One bitter moment of terror, squeezing our hearts and choking us with fear.
Voices of grief, of fury, fear, and hate
Rouse us from our trance-like state.
We view the wretched scene of human carnage
Lives torn apart, shattered like pieces of broken glass; in this we find no message.
You who are Alpha and Omega – “The Beginning and the End,”
We need your grace and guidance to help us mend.
We the people, poor, rich, healthy, sick, black, white, brown, and in-between,
Come together in search of solace, wisdom, and strength unseen.
We seek answers for why we have lost some of the best
And hope to find solutions to this profound global unrest.
Hand in hand we will strive to build a better tomorrow
So that our children and their grandchildren will never feel such sorrow
As we have known. No, they shall laugh and play and sing and dance
And walk without stumbling for love gives them balance.
America stands united, even though we feel diminished by pain and grief
Yet we march on, determination making us one, and we find strength in our belief
That democracy, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness
Will be victorious, for God this country will forever bless.
From the ashes of the once magnificent World Trade Center
Come waves of agony, fear and despair, yet a small ray of hope beckons dreams to enter.
Dreams of tolerance, understanding and love that will never cease
So that eventually there will be lasting world peace.
Virtute et Eruditione – “By Virtue and by Learning”
At last we heed our sisters’ cries, their voices clear, their hearts unfurled
Like the sails of a restless ship, straining to catch the wind as the tide changes.
They challenge us to “change our world by changing ourselves as we change our world!”1— Constance Mussa
1 Bricker-Jenkins, Mary, and Hooyman, Nancy (1986).
Not for women only: Social work practice for a feminist future.
Ballad Of A Golden Couple
Long ago in a special place
Two young hearts joined together with God’s grace
Their tender exchanges and solemn vows
Said to the world, “we belong to each other now.
With great joy and merry fest
Canute and Leanora journeyed on to build their nest
No book to guide them and obstacles abounding
They found that wedded bliss could be at times quite confounding!
Of course they faltered and were sometimes at the brink of disaster,
But their love and commitment triumphed to produce children and laughter.
Two souls connected amidst life’s chaos and uncertainties
Yet their passion and devotion created joy in great quantities.
In a time of great trial when in their love they found it hard to believe
A promise so divine from God they did receive
For God said, “Your children shall be like olive plants around your house…”
Canute and Leanora, holding this promise dear, ceased their worry and no more did they grouse.
Now fifty years, nine children, nineteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren later
This blessed couple’s love for each other could never be greater.
So, today we lift our voices together in praise
Of this truly golden couple, who chose to follow God’s ways.
And even now when their twilight years have come
They walk steadfastly together in the light of God’s Kingdom.
— Constance Mussa
Breathing Through The Storm
We started out together in calm, but uncharted waters
Never envisioning the storm clouds gathering in the distance
As we worked and learned together in close, but cozy quarters
To provide the best respiratory support for each patient regardless of the unique circumstance.
Then like a tornado swooping down with malicious glee
Came the COVID-19 pandemic dragging us into its maddening fray
Attacking lungs and causing oxygen to flee
Threatening to take everyone’s breath away.
PPE, RTs, intubations, and ventilators – these obscure entities suddenly became the focus of the whole world
While you worked feverishly to rescue ravaged lungs and limit iatrogenic complications
As the deadly coronavirus throughout weakened bodies, its deadly weapons unfurled.
However, your mission was clear and concise – to promote patient-ventilator synchrony, adequate ventilation and oxygenation, and avoid alveolar overdistention.
Proning, bronchoscopy, and ET-Tube scraping - you worked diligently with the healthcare team
Risking your health in the fight against a most vicious enemy as you balanced high workloads,
Fighting for your patients’ liberation from the ventilator, through the application of a specific ventilator management regime
Then weaning ventilatory support as far down as you can go, eagerly anticipating your patient’s transition to a spontaneous breathing mode.
The hectic pace gradually decelerates, and you start to breathe with more ease,
Reflecting on your experiences during this unprecedented and difficult time.
You slowly relax and banter with your colleagues
Although you remain alert and ready like an eagle to soar as you take that next climb.
— Constance Mussa
Transitions
Looking around your new environment with excitement laced with apprehension,
Anxious thoughts parade across your mind as you seek deeper comprehension
Of your disconcerting decision to pursue studies in this obscure field called Respiratory Care.
In fact, as you contemplate each professor’s expectations and the challenges ahead, you wonder, “Why am I even here?
Assignments, quizzes, exams, and presentations,
Acronyms, gas laws, vital signs, and respiratory physiology - what a mess, and oh such lamentations!
First semester, and difficult changes that severely test your will,
But you rise to the challenge, your tenacity pushing you onward and upward to the top of that steep hill
To reach ever closer to your dreams
As you pursue knowledge, the window through which the light of wisdom streams.
Heavy courses, light courses, online and face-to-face discourses – just way too many courses!
Mechanics of breathing, lung function testing, and mechanical ventilation - studying those are appropriate, but what is the point of essay questions on the management of human resources?
Cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, critical care, and congenital cardiac diseases are super cool, though mind-boggling and intense,
But social media, professional branding, informatics, ANOVA, p-value, alpha, beta, and statistical power for an embryonic respiratory therapist just makes absolutely no sense!
Like a butterfly, your metamorphosis is breathtaking to behold
And you must know that your new poised, polished, professional self brings to your professors joy untold!
As you emerge from your solitary confinement fortified with lectures, labs, and simulation
To hone your skills during clinical practicums where you observe the effects of PEEP, iNO, and pulmonary vasodilation,
You take a deep sustained breath, filling those shrinking alveoli with much needed air as you sigh with pleasure mingled with weariness
Mustering every ounce of strength and courage to cross the finish line without becoming completely breathless.
On graduation day, you sparkled as you floated up to the stage on wings of delight
To collect that seemingly elusive diploma after your long exhausting fight.
May you reflect on the lessons learned, the friendships you’ve made, and the lives that will be entrusted to you.
And now it’s time to say, adieu!
— Constance Mussa
Faith (My Sister)
A simple word with profound meaning
A name for a face that was always beaming
Strength, optimism, hope and dreams
Even when life appeared to be coming apart at the seams
Love, happiness, and tranquility was what she was about
With a sunny disposition that left no room for doubt
Amidst life’s storms and fearsome tossings
She sailed on calmly, jovially navigating some of life’s most dangerous crossings
Alas! She fell into the clutches of a vicious foe
Who was determined to cause her nothing but woe
By wounding and ravaging her body with spiteful glee
Leaving her bruised and breathless in plain sight of you and me
Throughout her ordeal she never wavered
Her cheerfulness intact as life she savored
Despite life’s challenges and bitter disappointments
Her good-natured self enabled her to enjoy deep contentment
For she is Faith.
To this vicious foe she surrendered gracefully -
“My time is up and I must go,” she calmly told her anxious family
And now she rests in the bosom of her father
Sleeping peacefully with those He has chosen to gather
In His presence where He looks on with love and tenderness
“Well done my child, you have earned your rest. Here, you will find no unpleasantness”
His voice like sweet music filling her ears
Erasing all memory of suffering and tears
Thus, there is no need to weep for Faith - sister, mother, friend and daughter
Her father keeps her and the heavens ring with her laughter
As her spirit soars to the greatest heights
A place that sparkles with celestial lights
Where she will sit at the Master’s feet
Waiting there until that time when we shall meet.
— Constance Mussa
Hope
Grief so thick, it clogs my throat and steals my breath
Despair so deep, I feel that I would welcome death
Anger so consuming, like wildfire burning - my heart pulsates with bitterness.
And so, I sit all alone within the circle of faithful friends
Filled with anguish so exquisite – a pain that never ends.
My spirit broken, my heart bruised and sore,
Oh, how I yearn for the joys we shared before!
Tears of pain, of rage, and fear
Drench my face, leaving my soul acrid and bare.
But deep within the ravaged terrain of my bleeding, broken heart
Tiny petals of hope unfurl so that healing may start.
Scenes from happier times flash across the screen of my mind
Slowly bursting into a kaleidoscope of memories more precious than any gold you can find
Laughter so melodious from happier times gone by
Floats like music to my ears so that I can no longer cry
Whispers so soft and gentle from sweet voices I remember
Wrap me in a cocoon of warmth with promises of love forever.
— Constance Mussa
Ode To Mother Africa
This land, our mother, where life began so sweet
Where once her children knelt joyfully together at her feet,
Now bows her head in silent mourning as she agonizes over her children’s unexpected deceit
For the blood of her children often run swiftly in the streets.
Now she clutches desperately at her empty, aching womb,
Dreadfully aware of a sense of crushing defeat and impending doom
Brother against brother, sister against sister,
So they divide and conquer, bringing Mother Africa to her knees.
Her majestic history and chronicles of black triumph and solidarity
Has made Mother Africa the target of much perfidy
Evil from without and treachery from within
Threaten to destroy her proud bearing and heritage, cruelly exposing her mutilated skin.
She flinches at the pain inflicted by some of her older children gone astray
Some of them tempted into betrayal by the spoils of her enemies’ illegal foray
Still, some look the other way while their mother, Africa, raped and desecrated, lies vulnerable and prostrate.
Oh, beloved mother, Africa! Surely this should never be your fate!
Africa, land of prophets, queens, and kings
Jewel of the world – home of all beginnings
Blessed with mountains high, valleys so low
Fertile soil, where verdant pastures grow
Mother of beautiful, gracious and gifted children
We grieve with you at the desecration of your magnificent Eden.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing, thugs posing as true leaders
Your bitter tears, like acid rain - enough to drown your would-be killers
Once you were the inspiration for poets, artists, and scholars.
You, our mother, Africa, were the pride of courageous warriors.
Standing so tall, so proud, and free,
A beacon for black nations struggling for freedom, respect, and dignity
But alas! At the height of her beauty and glory,
Our mother, Africa, fell prey to man’s greed and calumny
Now she lays bruised, bleeding and torn
While her abusers laugh and ridicule her with great scorn.
Yet, though she’s been betrayed by some of her own beloved offspring
Mother Africa finds hope in her youngest children; her older ones too, who never stop toiling
She revels in their healing touch, their loyalty unwavering, their embrace so enchanting
And though her young ones have been neglected by some of their older siblings,
Their youthful optimism, innate patriotism, tinkling laughter and cheerful singing
Bring her great joy and peace, even as the tears on her face still are stinging
Because she knows that her survival has been foretold from time beginning.
And so, Africa continues to stretch forth her hands with love and tenderness to all her diverse children.
— Constance Mussa
Mother
Mother, how can I possibly describe all that you mean to me
Attempting to do so would require words that would fill the sky and sea,
But since you are my mother, teacher, sister, friend, and mentor
I take great pleasure in embarking on this adventure.
So, here goes …
I’ll just take a deep breath and continue with this prose.
M is for mother, warm, gentle, loving sweet, and kind
It is also for melodious, your voice lifted in song - what sweeter sound can we find?
Mercy also describes you, which is seen in your daily acts of kindness;
Magnificent in your love as you nurture others, with mindfulness
Of the inherent dignity and great value of all God’s children
Regardless of their life circumstances and how others view them.
O is for outgoing, your cheerful friendliness has earned you the title of “Ms Congeniality”
Your openness to new people, ideas, and especially technology is definitely a reality!
And we cannot forget to mention how very observant you are,
So you are always quick to notice whenever someone is functioning below par
Indeed, you are one in a million, a light that brightens dark places
There is no mistaking the joy and laughter you bring to many different faces.
T is for thoughtful - your compassion and selflessness have given many a head start
And seeing you in action paints a beautiful picture of your heart.
Trustworthiness and truthfulness are virtues you wear very well
And your awesome tenacity has resulted in accomplishments that are really quite swell!
An exceptionally talented teacher you have proven to be
And I should know because you also taught me.
H is for humility, which is seen in your eagerness to serve, especially if there is no reward or visibility.
And your heroic performance in your multiple roles of wife, mother, teacher, and spiritual advisor elicits incredulity!
Just in case this description of you seems over the top
I will hastily add that your sense of humor can make people laugh so hard that they drop!
E is for effulgent – yes, you certainly emanate goodness and joy
Effervescent and cuddly to, but it must be noted that you are not a toy.
Elegance and beauty are other hallmarks of your personality
And let’s not forget, efficient, entrepreneurial, and equipped for God’s purposes, which is no triviality.
R is for real – you are always authentic and inspire me to embrace who God created me to be.
Rooted and grounded in the love of God, you are regal and serene, planted by the waters like a tree.
Resilient and tranquil from decades of living in relationship with God Who has taught you wisdom
That compels you to share with others, the only source of true freedom.
Resourceful, reputable, and resolute in your faith in the Creator
You continue your journey, teaching, learning, and proclaiming the name of Him Who is the ultimate originator.
— Constance Mussa
Living Water 