In Jan 2008, I got a call from a carer of a lady you suffers from ME.
ME otherwise known as Myalgic Encephalopathy is an awful awful disease that all types of people at all ages can be affected by. Severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are common symptoms suffered by ME sufferers. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. Other triggers may include an operation or an accident, although some people experience a slow, insidious onset.
When I first met Val she was very very lonely as none of her family believed she was ill ( ME sufferers are disabled without looking disabled so its hard for people to understand ) and having suffered with the disease for 30 years she had become too weak mentally and physically to be able to uphold any lasting friendships.
Over the last 6 years she has become one of my best friends as throughout our 6 hour cleans every Wednesday I discovered she was a very beautiful, creative, generous being of absolute solid moral fibre.
In 2010, for my birthday she wrote me a poem to express our friendship and in November, for her birthday, I transformed her lyrics into a song. This is the song.
Val is still suffering heavily but she has a couple more good friends in her life and has continued to be as creative as her illness allows. My hair do in the pictures used next to each song was her creation.
I truly wish there was more research to help all ME suffers and can't thank Val enough for this gorgeous poem and all the love, support, friendship and lessons she has taught me over the years. She is one of the strongest people I have ever met.
lyrics
My friend and I
We are not 2, we are 100 maybe more,
A twinkling snake parade of lanterns,
Like grains of sand upon the shore,
Cos we’re an army,
A solid wall to face each foe that comes along,
A fortress strong behind each other,
A source of strength when things go wrong,
My friend and I
We are not 2, we are a party, a joyful crowd,
A festival of rainbow colours,
A band of minstrels singing loud…
Cos we’re a field of woodland flowers
A maypoles interweaving strands,
A candle,
Burning vigil
Across the earth….. all holding hands.
My friend and I
We are not 2,
We are a single abundant whole,
We have one spirit, one heart one soul
Our ties will bind till we grow old,
Cos we’re a solo of many voices,
A travelling theatre with a cast of 2,
A picture of many landscapes
One million facets that’s me and you
My friend and I
We are not 2 we are a party a joyful crowd,
A festival of rainbow colours
A band of minstrels singing loud
My friend and I
We are not 2,
We are a single abundant whole,
We have one spirit, one heart one soul
Our ties will bind…
Till we grow old.
credits
from And a little bit of chutney,
released January 6, 2014
All songs written by J.Gordon, D. Evans & E.Cross.
Lyrics of 'My Friend and I' written by Valerie Carr.
Produced and mixed by Dave Evans
Co-produced by Julia Gordon
From Cork, Ireland, Lewis Barfoot writes mystic, majestic songs derived from regional folk, with an ambient music aura. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 11, 2023
