Area Woman Shares Poem Regarding Burdens With Visitors
April 20, 2021 at 6:27 p.m.
Area Woman Shares Poem Regarding Burdens With Visitors
By Jackie Gorski-
She has a binder full of her poetry.
She said she got into writing poetry because she found something fascinating in making words rhyme.
A resident of Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw, she has some of her visitors read a poem she wrote in the 1950s. Snyder framed and hung a version of that poem that a friend wrote in calligraphy.
“What we found is she typically guides people to read this poem,” daughter Janice Torrence said.
Social worker Angela Williams said it sounds like Snyder didn’t always have people read the poem, only when she remembered to do so. But as she and staff at Miller’s have gotten to know Snyder, Williams said she has guided them to read the poem.
When writing it, Snyder said she was happy that she was able to get the words to rhyme. Torrence said when her mother writes poetry, she never has to use shortcuts.
Snyder said the poem is based off a true story and the message is something everyone should listen to.
She said it came from when Torrence had polio in 1952. Snyder said there wasn’t the polio vaccine back then. When Snyder asked the doctor if her daughter was going to walk again, the doctor told her he believed so.
“It was a scary time,” Snyder said.
Williams said polio affected a lot of people.
Snyder was able to “talk to a lady” about her daughter having polio. Snyder wasn’t asked any questions. The woman Snyder talked to told Snyder she didn’t realize what kind of burden Snyder was carrying. Snyder said you don’t always realize the burdens people have.
When asked what their takeaway from the poem was, Torrence said even if someone doesn’t show what they’re feeling, be aware or sensitive to what the feeling.
Williams said it really made her think of the importance of words, how words become actions and how one word can make a difference can a difference to a person.
“One kind word can mean everything to somebody,” Williams said.
She has a binder full of her poetry.
She said she got into writing poetry because she found something fascinating in making words rhyme.
A resident of Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw, she has some of her visitors read a poem she wrote in the 1950s. Snyder framed and hung a version of that poem that a friend wrote in calligraphy.
“What we found is she typically guides people to read this poem,” daughter Janice Torrence said.
Social worker Angela Williams said it sounds like Snyder didn’t always have people read the poem, only when she remembered to do so. But as she and staff at Miller’s have gotten to know Snyder, Williams said she has guided them to read the poem.
When writing it, Snyder said she was happy that she was able to get the words to rhyme. Torrence said when her mother writes poetry, she never has to use shortcuts.
Snyder said the poem is based off a true story and the message is something everyone should listen to.
She said it came from when Torrence had polio in 1952. Snyder said there wasn’t the polio vaccine back then. When Snyder asked the doctor if her daughter was going to walk again, the doctor told her he believed so.
“It was a scary time,” Snyder said.
Williams said polio affected a lot of people.
Snyder was able to “talk to a lady” about her daughter having polio. Snyder wasn’t asked any questions. The woman Snyder talked to told Snyder she didn’t realize what kind of burden Snyder was carrying. Snyder said you don’t always realize the burdens people have.
When asked what their takeaway from the poem was, Torrence said even if someone doesn’t show what they’re feeling, be aware or sensitive to what the feeling.
Williams said it really made her think of the importance of words, how words become actions and how one word can make a difference can a difference to a person.
“One kind word can mean everything to somebody,” Williams said.
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