fields of tombstones standing in silent watch
appearing as a living breathing entity
it’s about death,
but of course, life gives death meaning
the sublime beauty of repeating imagery
stretching to infinity
yet I’m lost in my own finite world
silence lingers in the air as the dust settles
why are we here, do we exist?
as I gaze ahead, I ponder what I leave behind
what dust of me remains, if even
but yet, here I stand with the remains
still alive
© 2021 michael d emmerich
© 2021 mikesnexus.com
the only way to beat death
is to live
…..
the only way to live
is to have hope
…..
the way to have hope
is to have courage
……
pushing on gives optimism
whatever begins, ends
© 2021 michael d emmerich
© 2021 mikesnexus.com
When experience is tossed aside in the pursuit of financial gain and not patient gain |Tales from my stethoscope | Mike Emmerich |#Podcast |#ebizradio
36 years working in the Emergency Medical Services; thousands of patients; endless months in remote locations. Listen to Mike Emmerich’s story.
The Winter Edition for 2020, has hit the shelves, it’s live now on Ambulance Today.
This Africa Quarterly (written whilst resting up at home in South Africa, after 380 days working on the road) explores the challenges of companies failing to interact with front-line staff at so many levels – as “Editor Joe” says:
“You cannot see this year through without ranting at something. Be realistic. Regular contributor, Mike Emmerich, has picked a very deserving target in corporate companies who have promoted support to their frontline workers during this year’s pandemic, but seemingly without input from those very same people who have actually lived through those difficulties first-hand. An extremely important conversation, which may be easily overlooked!”
Click on the link below to download and read the entire magazine (you’re welcome) and of course my article on page 32 & 33
From the Africa Desk of Ambulance Today – The Banality of Corporate Arrogance
Ambulance Today Winter Ed 2020
To all the followers of this page, if you want to see an article written about any specific aspect of Emergency Care on the African continent, or get me to interview a key role player, drop me a mail. Equally, if you have any news items you would like us to run either in our magazine or on our daily updated global ambulance news website please make contact.
For the readers from Africa, if you wish to advertise or have a free advertorial written up in the magazine, make contact and lets see how I can assist …
To my fellow passionate EMS friends across the world, I trust you are enjoying this journey, as we continue to explore this fascinating continent. Till then be safe out there and stay passionate – Enjoy!
© 2020 michael d emmerich
“Nonintervention does not mean that nothing happens.
It means that something else happens.”
Christopher Hitchens
On this day when we remember the fallen, lets gave pause for thought, to the boys forced to become men, to become killers. In silent contemplation, I at times shout out to my silence; why do we discard our best and brightest to senseless conflicts. The hopes and disappointments of generations of young (mostly) men/boys are always dashed at the altar of political expedience and greed. Young men fighting old men’s wars. The First World War poets have always stuck a deep chord on my soul and I reread the poems and contemplate deeply on the what, why, how and the loss. The poetry of Owen, Rosenberg, Blunden, Gurney and Sassoon are those that I turn to when I need to pause and think, why is this world so fucked up?
Consequently, I have put my pen to writing about war, and the effect it has had on me; as who served, and on our youth and the broader society. Here are some of the poems I have written with a precise of what inspired/motivated me to to put pen to paper. Not in the same league as Owen and Sassoon, but hopefully it will cause you dear reader, to pause, and reflect as to where we are going in this crazy world.
Upon reflecting on my time in the military/war as an Ops Medic, my mind flitted around the war, in which I was involved, and its unpopularity (in my opinion) and the baggage that one carries after the fact. The PTSD that soldiers carry with them for life, but that society has long forgotten, especially if the war was unpopular. Sting said: “History will teach us nothing” in some respects he is true.
The passing of Muhammad Ali gave me pause for reflection on the issues of war, forcible conscription and all that goes with it, he went to prison rather than be drafted to serve in Vietnam. I then reflected back on my time when I was forcibly conscripted in 1981 and my battle with the process of all that is war.
This arose from a dream I had, which then made me think back to a Wilfred Owen poem I read, “Strange Meeting”. Upon further reflection I cast my mind back to when I was an Ops Medic in the bush war in 1981/82 and the time I spent treating patients at the main POW camp in the now Namibia. My thought process then meandered through a montage of past present and future. It was a difficult poem to write but the words just spilled out once I began.
Penned this on the International day of Peace in Sept this year. To quote John Lennon: Give Peace a chance.
…. and a few others:
© 2018/20 michael d emmerich
© 2018/20 mikesnexus.com
battered, bruised
used and abused
but not destroyed
deception, lies and bullshit
no bond just a hypocrite
is their holy writ
the weight presses down
yet ...
when the call goes out
the deal goes down
I’m still willin’
coz I care
…….
unlike some
The Autumn Edition for 2020, has hit the shelves, it’s live now on Ambulance Today.
This edition of Ambulance Today takes a look at the many different responses from EMS providers all over the world to the SARS–CoV–2 Pandemic, alongside a wealth of other interesting and progressive articles.
This Africa Quarterly (written whilst working in the Middle East) explores the dynamic of COVID medics locked out their home countries – as “Editor Joe” says:
“Mike Emmerich offers a usually thought-provoking and poetic opinion piece on the lifestyle of a COVID medic locked out from their home country“
Click on the link below to download and read the entire magazine (you’re welcome) and of course my article on page 56 & 57
From the Africa Desk of Ambulance Today – Lost and Found in the Time of COVID
Ambulance Today Spring Ed 2020
To all the followers of this page, if you want to see an article written about any specific aspect of Emergency Care on the African continent, or get me to interview a key role player, drop me a mail. Equally, if you have any news items you would like us to run either in our magazine or on our daily updated global ambulance news website please make contact.
For the readers from Africa, if you wish to advertise or have a free advertorial written up in the magazine, make contact and lets see how I can assist …
To my fellow passionate EMS friends across the world, I trust you are enjoying this journey, as we continue to explore this fascinating continent. Till then be safe out there and stay passionate – Enjoy!
© 2020 michael d emmerich
life, for what purpose to what end do we exist, or do we? dwelling in the pain of human finitude with transient joys, to what end do not the beasts of the field have more purpose? finding happiness and meaning, is it even possible in their world can we even control what matters? a reason and a season for this perpetual autumn my dreams are as stormy clouds, fast approaching yet tomorrow never arrives for we are destined to shuffle on and off we live, we die, we know not why what is this life is it even meant to have meaning? breath, eat, love, shit, work and then …..
A poem on wrote for the International day of Peace in 2016 …. worth another read …
a white feather fell from heaven doves fly by a bullet whistles past blood drips from the bough of a tree peace in our time is the mantra can it be believed cowardice, faith, protection, bravery peace so many messages, to which do we cleave hope from beyond; past, present or future don’t shoot the messenger crying white doves circle hoping they do not die bringing their message doves cry where children die hope dies when doves cannot fly may they be lifted on the wings of peace upwards to a burning sky to a place with no name the sun sets on a world in disarray how many more white feathers need to fall from a burning sky the spirits are watching are they at peace? I pray that…
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Have been based on the Red Sea in KSA since June. The desert scenery is vast, breathtaking, desolate and beautiful. I have been going for sunrise runs/cycles across the barren plains and coast, feeling the morning heat rising and the humidity been burnt off as the wind slowly picks up, drying out everything, including my sweat soaked training gear and drying the sweat on my body. Here are some of the photo’s, taken with my Huawei P40 Pro, and amazing camera phone. More to follow … 
… as, thanks to COVID I am still here for a few more months.
