To A Stuffed Shirt
On the tide you ride head high,
Like a whale 'mid little fishes;
I should envy you as I
Help my wife to wash the dishes.
Yet frock-coat and stove-pipe hat
Cannot hide your folds of fat.
You are reckoned a success,
And the public praise you win;
There's your picture in the Press,
Pouchy eyes and triple chin.
Wealth,--of it you fairly stink;
Health,--what does your Doctor think?
Dignity is phoney stuff.
Who is dignified deep down?
Strip the pants off, call the bluff,
Common clay are king and clown.
Let a bulging belly be
Your best bid for dignity.
Miserable millionaire!
For indulgence you must pay.
Yet there's salvation in prayer,--
Down on your fat knees and pray.
Know that with your dying breath
There is dignity in death.
poem by Robert William Service
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Related quotes
Dignity
Dignity is what we want,
As human beings on this earth;
Dignity is what we can’t,
Give up anyway since birth.
Dignity is innate right,
God has bestowed man, He made;
Dignity is cause to fight
When employees get under-paid.
Dignity, all need always
At home, at school and one’s work-place;
Dignity for human race,
Men must guarantee all days.
Dignity in livelihood,
Receive should all citizens;
Dignity in dying too,
World must assure everyone.
Dignity is what we need
In life on earth and when we die;
Dignity is good indeed
For creatures born under the sky.
Dignity for man and beast
Is a must for all, west / east;
Dignity for anyone
Shouldn’t be denied, any time!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-26-2006
poem by John Celes
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Top-Secret Stuff Nov 12th,2012
Death-with-dignity is important if you get Lou Gehrig's disease,
You can't avoid the oncoming pain and there are no guarantees,
But death-with-dignity in Canada is completely banned,
By an executive order from the Ottawa command.
Both binding referendums and death-with-dignity are denied,
Is this democracy, dictatorship or Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
Why do our appointees and politicians just smile and walk away?
Why are media moguls so careful in what they write and say?
Top-secret stuff never mentioned in the obedient press,
Ideas about death-with-dignity are never expressed,
Binding referendums are the flashpoint of future change,
Why are they so difficult to arrange and why so strange?
poem by James Bredin
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We Will Eventually Die
Isolated independent Ottawa aristocrats up there,
Don't know or care about death with dignity anywhere,
It's not on their agenda, so please, you can't interfere,
Their bought media moguls will tell you that there's nothing to fear.
And if you are sick and going to die, they couldn't care less,
They really don't want to know because it might depress,
Your provincial health care system should look after you,
And if you are lucky enough, you just might even pull through.
But death with dignity should be an up-front national cause,
While those organized and opposed are waiting for their applause,
Are these the same folk who love abortion death clinics here and there?
And those of us who want death with dignity, don't have a prayer.
poem by James Bredin
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Dignity As An Election Issue Oct 5th,2012
The Sue Rodriguez syndrome may eventually haunt us all,
As we get closer to death and certainly not having a ball,
Because death with dignity is completely forbidden here,
The doctor, who assisted you, could go to jail and disappear.
And the government can't change it because this is Supreme Court stuff,
They may try it in Quebec but this could be legally rough,
But I admire them for having the guts - the only province to try,
As, without death with dignity, we all get in a lineup to die.
Unfortunately our politicians tend to hide about this,
Never mention that some people have it, such as the Swiss,
But our isolated politicians are in Ottawa very far away,
They want nothing to change and please no election issue or day.
poem by James Bredin
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What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.
quote by Dominique de Menil
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Before You Die... Dec 2nd,2012
Before your name gets into the obituaries, you must die,
And you may not have had the opportunity to say good-bye,
Because you have little control of anything relative to your death,
No death-with-dignity as you wait quietly to take your last breathe.
And those opposed to death-with-dignity want nothing to change,
Like the Sue Rodriguez case and nothing will be rearranged,
You will either go to heaven or hell; it depends on yourself,
Death-with-dignity is a sin and no one should lower themselves.
Therefore it is the holier than thou churches that are adamant,
Bishops and holy priests will be the only informants,
Therefore the law cannot be changed to help the sick and dying,
There's no other way except obeying and complying.
poem by James Bredin
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Is This You? Sept 18th,2012
You may have a chance between dying with chemo or cancer,
Not a nice question, I know, so no need to come up with an answer,
Because in Canada, you are not allowed death with dignity,
Let's hope that your future does not have this indignity.
The lady dying of Lou Gehrig's disease asked but was forbidden,
Was refused by appointees whose decisions can't be overridden,
Therefore Canadians are forbidden death with dignity,
A graphic lack of democracy and all done instantly.
And when a problem arrives, it cannot be recognized,
Because everything is perfect and you didn't even realize,
And those who want death with dignity will have to go away,
Referendums are forbidden too but aristocrats can stay.
poem by James Bredin
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Wait Till You Die Feb 26th,2011
We have to wait to die because there is no other way,
At least there is no death with dignity advertised on display
And assisted suicide here in Canada is illegal,
Your doctor could end up needing more than a paralegal.
And this is a nasty subject that nice people try to avoid,
The religious and the holy folk might even be annoyed.
You will go to heaven or hell after you die they all say,
Their religious rules say that they are right as they often pray.
I’ll admit, it’s not a nice subject but we’re all going to get there,
And the experience of death and dying, no one is aware,
We could get death with dignity if referendums like the Swiss,
I can almost hear it now as politicians and priests all hiss.
Feb 26th,2011
poem by James Bredin
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Euthanasia In Canada Sept 25th,2012
Sure, old folk can sometimes see the handwriting on the wall,
Death might be getting closer unless they can have it stalled,
They'd like an easy way out if they can get it legal and right,
Maybe binding referendums and death with dignity, day or night.
But our politicians are busy at the moment and what's your name?
And death with dignity is very illegal so that's not the same,
You'll have to call back again sometime or just send an e-mail,
And if you die in the meantime, we'll put it in the garbage pail.
Because in Canada, death with dignity is completely banned,
And if you are caught in this Canadian trap, you could be damned,
Because not only that; the church says DWD is a mortal sin,
So it's down to hell you'll go with the other sinners then.
poem by James Bredin
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Death With Dignity Very Please Oct 11th,2012
The death with dignity issue is an example of no fuss,
And how isolated our Ottawa politicians are from us,
They just wont touch the subject though people are dying all around,
It must be their political agenda and they win hands down.
But it would be nice to arrange this whole dying affair,
Have death with dignity, even though some don't seem to care,
Maybe they think that they themselves will never never die,
Because they are aristocrats in Ottawa, somewhere up high.
I'm going to die but I don't know when, where, how or why,
And someday you are too, so we better now say goodbye,
And hope we don't get the Sue Rodriguez treatment before we go,
And nothing has changed though that was many many years ago.
poem by James Bredin
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If you make a fool of yourself, you can do it with dignity, without taking your pants down. And if you do take your pants down, you can still do it with dignity.
quote by William Shatner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Can't Die When Or If You Want
You can’t have a planned death unless you are a dog or a cat,
Death with dignity is out of the question at your final bat,
Because our politicians and priests wont accept this notion,
They’re busy doing religious and political promotion.
But eventually each and every last one of us will die,
Unfortunately we don’t know how, when, where or even why,
But we could if they allowed legal death with dignity,
And allowed doctor assisted suicide indefinitely.
Your most important moment is when you exit from this life,
Good if you could arrange when, where and how with no strife,
Call all your friends and family around for one last time,
Unfortunately, you can’t do it now because it’s a crime.
Jan 13th,2011
poem by James Bredin
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Death With Dignity Please
If I die and I will and I don't know where or when or why,
And I can't do anything about it as I wait to say goodbye,
But it would be nice to arrange the whole dying affair,
Have death with dignity, even though religious groups don't dare.
I suppose I'm lucky, not to know when, where or why I'll die,
And you are too so maybe we should get ready to say goodbye,
You and I and us in the photographs will soon be long gone,
We can't plan for our untimely deaths because they say, it's wrong.
But the Swiss and those in Oregon have death with dignity,
While in Canada; it is viewed as a forbidden disability,
I know; I know; it's probably a sin to plan your death,
But why suffer for years in pain and disease waiting for your last breath?
poem by James Bredin
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Death With Dignity In Canada Oct 29th,2012
If the church has forbidden death with dignity; what else have they banned?
Are pedophile priests still hidden in this multicultural land?
Are abortions allowed to kill unborn babies here and there?
Should I apologize for being so bold and showing that I care?
If the States of Oregon and Washington can change things around,
Should the other states and should Canada hear the campaign sound?
Could we all die in dignity instead of devastating pain?
I think it would be better to hear the death-with-dignity campaign.
If ladies can have abortions here and there; then and now,
Why can't we have death-with-dignity instead of a pompous row?
Is it illegal or a sin or disgusting to talk about this?
Several European countries have it now, including the Swiss
poem by James Bredin
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Dying With Dignity Feb 9th 2011
DYING WITH DIGNITY FEB 9TH,2011
I’M NOT TOO PLEASED ABOUT DYING SO READ ON AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY,
BECAUSE IT CAN’T BE ARRANGED AND PLANNED IN THIS LAND AND THAT’S NO LIE,
AND ASSISTED SUICIDE IS A TERRIBLE CRIMINAL OFFENCE,
YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR COULD GO TO JAIL AND THERE’S NO DEFENCE.
ONE OF THESE VERY FINE SUMMER OR WINTER DAYS, I’LL BE DEAD,
AND MY VERY SHORT OBITUARY IN THE PAPERS WILL BE READ,
BUT IT’S NOT BEING DEAD; IT’S ALL THAT FUSS AND DYING THAT BOTHERS ME,
AND THERE’S NO DEATH WITH DIGNITY HERE AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.
WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO DIE IN PAIN AND THERE’S NO EASY WAY OUT,
IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW RELIGIOUS YOU ARE OR HOW DEVOUT,
IF WE COULD GET AN EUTHANASIA PILL, IT COULD BE PLANNED WITH FRIENDS,
WAVE GOOD BYE TO THEM ALL AND DIE HAPPY WITH THE NEW TRENDS.
FEB 9TH 2011
poem by James Bredin
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All I Want For Christmas
All I want for Christmas,
Is my dignity.
My dignity,
You took from me!
All I want for Christmas,
Is my dignity.
Freed from a greed,
You deceived!
'You wicked lowlife slithering leeches.'
All I want for Christmas,
Is my dignity.
My dignity,
You took from me!
All I want for Christmas,
Is my dignity.
Freed from a greed,
You deceived!
~Daddy?
Do you think that is an appropriate song for Santa?
Maybe 'Jingle Bells'?
You can do 'Jingle Bells' and I'll send 'that'
With my letter to the North Pole.
Record it over, please Daddy, please.~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Democracies Can Change Oct 27th,2012
DEMOCRACIES CAN CHANGE OCT 27TH,2012
BY
JAMES BREDIN
If Pauline Marois can get death-with-dignity for Quebec,
It will then be provincial health and we wont be up to our neck,
Because, if she can do it, we can do it, despite Ottawa crowd,
While they scream that death-with-dignity is just not allowed.
How many times can we read their assisted-suicide stuff?
Both sides claiming that they are right and they've had enough,
From politicians and priests and judges who claim that they care,
And others who would go to Switzerland if they had the fare.
Our inability to change is a sign that something is wrong,
Like Sue Rodriguez, dying in pain and forced to go along,
If Canada is a true democracy; then why can't we change?
If we can find a good political leader and why is this so strange?
OCT 27TH,2012
poem by James Bredin
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Sue Rodriguez Forgotten Case Nov 3rd,2012
Sue Rodriguez Forgotten Case Nov 3rd,2012
By
James Bredin
The Sue Rodriguez case, seems to have been long forgotten,
Media moguls and politicians seem to think it was rotten,
She tried to get death with dignity but they refused,
Though appointed judges and politicians did not seem amused.
Because we the people are not allowed government control,
Few set-date elections, referendums or plebiscites on the whole,
No Senate or compulsory votes where death with dignity is banned,
Various religions and bought-politicians think this is grand.
The States of Oregon and Washington have had it for years,
People go to Switzerland to die and avoid the pain and tears,
While Ottawa politicians and aristocrats hide out up there,
Busy avoiding death with dignity and maybe saying a prayer.
Nov 3rd,2012
poem by James Bredin
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Dignity Demands...
dignity demands...
i be who i am,
i stand for what i am,
and i do so with respect!
dignity demands...
i see others for who they are,
that i accept them for who they are,
and do so with respect!
dignity demands...
that i live freedom and equality,
bound by no man nor creed,
and that i live with respect.
dignity demands...
that i do this job,
of living and giving well...
knowing respect brings respect!
dignity demands...
poem by Eric Cockrell
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I Am (Blunt Edge)
i am...
the blunt edge, the jagged rim.
the cold shock of truth,
the common sense statement.
the nuclear missiles dismantled,
and the guns laid down.
the food needed for the hungry,
and the collapse of systems.
i am equal distribution,
the need and right to work.
i am Friday night, and Sunday morning,
the wedding dress put away.
i am education for the poor,
and rehab for the addict.
i am the dignity of death
made by the dignity of life!
i am the rose and the broken mower,
the cow milked every morning.
i am the poetry of the common,
and the sacred ground they walk.
i am the baby born in poverty,
and the chance that must be.
i am the prisoner who did his time,
and the job that he needs.
i am the long haul trucker,
the steel worker, and the nurse.
i am the doctor who runs the clinic
on the poor side of town.
i am the young couple making love,
twenty five years later!
i am the stink of garbage,
the incense, and the candle!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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