Here are some more poems by Jean McQuaid! Please email me at cosettepontmercy@yahoo.com if you would like to see your poetry here!

P r e s t o n   A.   L o d g e -  the 3rd




Welcome to my Health Spa and my Grande
Hotel.

If your
bones are aching, the springs will make them well.

I have fine
dining for you and
for your delight,

The music is superb,
the atmosphere-just
right.

Oh, I own the Bank as well. Do you
need a loan?


As for your collateral, I'll simply take your home.


I take the
money to invest and that is as you know,

How a
business like my own
can profit and can grow.

They don't understand me
here. Their ways are oh
so crude.

And some people make remarks-well, they are down right
rude!
I'm just
like my father-a
business man, thats true.

I came to this small
western town, I had
my job to do.

I'm Preston Lodge the 3rd, my motive's
plain to see.

I
only want a place to grow, on that we can agree.


I haven't found my
true love yet. I haven't found the time.

I am a kind of
lonely man who needs to
make a dime.

I'm not the easiest to be with, I'm
strict and straight but
yet-
I'd
offer her my fortune, just look at what she'd get.


Since I've come to
this town, I've seen how it has grown.

I want a mansion,
over there-so grande-to
call my own.

A place that outshines all the rest, that
in my mind I see.

Theres
much work left to do here that the future holds for
me.
But I know
I'll have to work
hard. Trust here isn't cheap.

Some of these fine people,
their morals run so
deep.

They fight against the progress, but they'll
never win.

It's just
like when the railroad came, they all had to give in.

Their
future is waiting. It's
knocking at their door.

And if they all knew
what I know, life
holds so much more.

My Hotel brings in strangers, some
investors to see,

Just
how great my plans for this little town can be.


And I am not alone,
others will follow my lead.

Some for
the pleasure, some for
the greed.

No matter their methods,
no matter their
ways.

We all want more from this life, we
all want better
days.

Oh I will hold on steadfast, just as long as I can.


I'm a
person with vision-a good business man.


I'll help the
progress. I'll make it my home.


And as more people
come it will be quite well known,

That Preston A
Lodge the 3rd made it
here.

I have no regrets. I came
with no fear.


So welcome my guests, rest a while,
slow your pace.

For
Preston is here, I have found my new place.

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Where Are They Now?
                                  


There's a kind of
hush round the little town today. No people at work.
No children at play.
Where has everyone gone? Why aren't they
all here? Will they
ever come back,
in my heart-not, I fear.



Their time is over.
It's come to an end. No horses to shoe, 
no fences to mend.
What made them go? Was it something so
bad? Were they all
that unhappy? Were they all that sad?



I miss them on Saturdays
for they all used to be,so very special. 
Like my family.
I'd take a visit to Colorado Springs. 
With each new adventure I'd
see special things.  
There used to be laughter and
happy townsfolk. I miss Jake and Hank, 
just sharing a joke.           
And Robert E. working so hard every day, 
with Grace making pies in her little cafe.                         
Loren stocked shelves.
He kept his place clean. And Preston the banker, 
some folks thought him mean.



The school where the children all went to learn. 
The cemetery where folks went when it
was their turn.



And Dorothy's Gazette kept you
right up to date. 
She worked very hard so it wouldn't be late.       
Old Horace he'd send all your messages out. 
And find you to tell you what news was about.
But it's like a ghost town. There's nobody here. This
sweet little town that we all held so dear.      
Guess it's gone forever and it won't come
back. Cause there's weeds growning up through the railroad track.



The signs gone too from the clinic, I see. And we all knew that
that's where Michaela would be.   
The homestead's gone too. It's all torn down. Oh what has become
of this quaint little town?         
I remember when it was a bustling place. 
Where Dorothy and Michaela would eat lunch with Grace.



And Sully and Cloud Dancing went to the woods 
and Loren from wagons, would offload his goods.



Brian went fishing down
at the stream. And now
it just seems it was all just a dream.
Were Matthew and Ingrid set to be wed? Did Sully really make that
beautiful bed?
Was Katie really born, out in the wild? Oh what has become of
that beautiful child?                         
Andrew,Colleen-where are they now? If it doesn't continue, we'll never know how,
Things turned out in our frontier town. 
That's why I stand here, my face with a frown.                      
Did Grace have her baby? Did Matthew find love? 
And now all I hear is a lonely, sweet dove.         
Was it in my mind or was it really there? 
It looks like they've gone. There's no one to care.           
Will they ever come back to us all in this town?
The last time we saw them, Colleen wore the gown,


That Michaela had worn on her wedding day. 
We witnessed her vows to Sully that day.
We saw all the trouble, the Indians fought.
And we saw Dorothy happy-oh the pleasure she got,   
With Cloud Dancing so close, things were
fine. Who knows what will happen to them in good time.




And Jake found a wife. He was happier too. And after the
train the little town grew.                          
But I can't help
wondering-where are they now? 
That poor boy accused of stealing a cow.
The gunslinger, the circus, the man in the moon, 
Olive and Snowbird-they were taken too soon.  
Myra and Horace-will they ever unite? 
If we wrote the script, we'd
make all things right!                 
Saturday's gone and it won't be the same. It's faded so fast, guess that's part of the game.           
But true fans remember. They won't let it go. We'll all hold on
tight to this wonderful show.            
As long as there's hope and we all can agree,
we just have to show others and make them all see.


There's nothing else like it. Dr. Quinn was the one. 
When Beth wrote this
story-what had she begun!



Little did she know, Jane would get a
star. And fans would be joining from near and from
far.        
And after this show was put to rest, new fans came along and
said "It's the best!"
In our hearts it won't die-it
will always be, 
Dr. Quinn, our show -the only one for me!
Time will best tell if they make something new. 
Like this from one story-a huge fan club grew!     
Can someone, somewhere-do it again? 
Come up with a story from
Way-back-When?                    
So, where have they gone? There's nobody
here?  They aren't coming back-it's over, I fear.
So I'll blow out the lamps and close all the doors. Put up Hank's
chairs and sweep Loren's floors.



Padlock the livery and store all the signs. I'll pack up
the props and the costume designs.             
And pray for a miracle-we all hope-one day, that they'll all be back to this town -and they'll stay!

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Hitch Up The Wagon
                               



Hitch the horses
to the wagon, we're going to town. There's going to be
a dance and I need a
new gown.



I am still a woman but a doctor for sure.
And you say you're
feeling ill-well I've got the cure.          Drop in
to my clinic, I'll
give you some tea. You'll be feeling well fast-so just
wait and see.
There's going to be a party. Everyone will be
there. So I'll put on
some perfume and do up my hair.



There'll
be music for dancing
and fine food to eat. When this townsfolk get
together-it's really a treat.




Laughing and singing-we'll party all
night. We've had lots of
practice to do it up right.                      It's
the social event of
the year for most. Jake does the calling and Grace is
your host.
She serves up her cider and her cookings the
best. That's how we
celebrate out here in the west.



Girls
with their beaus and
women with their men. Everything was proper way back
then.
You didn't kiss in public-no that wasn't done. There
were lots of other
ways to have some fun.     But if you're getting
married or already wed,
you may kiss and hug-so the Reverend said.
The moon will be
shining, so bright that night, as we all are
together-all will be right.
And when it's all over and we've all
gone home, we'll all
remember the best time we've known.    I'll pull out
my hairpins and blow
out the lights and remember those wonderful Colorado
nights.   So hitch up
that wagon cause we're heading to town. There's going
to be a party and I
need that new gown!

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Turn Around Custer



Custer sat tall
in the saddle as he rode into town.

He had
long blonde hair and
wore a vicious frown.

He said he came here to
make peace not war.


But we've all heard that old story before!



Oh why won't they leave the Indians be?


They
just want a home where they can live free.


As they did long ago
as time once began.

Before, to
the west, came the
onslaught of man.

We all just want peace-we
don't want to fight.


Let them keep their land-that's what's
right!


But the army with their new way of living,


May
think grain and blankets is their way of giving.


Back to the people
who once owned this land,

With sun
covered mountains-their
majesty-grande.

When buffalo roamed there was
plenty for all.


And the Indian man he stood proud. He stood
tall.

But now
he's expected to live white man's ways.

The
buffalo are gone-they
no longer graze.

I can't see the
justice that Custer
has brought.

All I see are dead soldiers
in battles they
fought.

Tempers flare hot-both sides won't
give.


All anyone wants is a safe place to live.



I sit at my table and eat a fine meal.


As
they sit in their tents trying to work out a deal.


Nobody wins-but
we all lose.


They say 'take
sides-we all have to choose'.


Progress is here. You can't
fight that fact.

But the way it
was done-without any
tact.

Without any conscience,
they took away lives.


With soldiers and braves killed-they left
lonely wives.

Left
all alone to carry on living.


It
sure makes one question this thing called
Thanksgiving.
Didn't
the Indians and
Pilgrims unite?

And now
why are they all so
eager to fight?

So what in the end
will we all have to
gain?

With the Indians gone-are we
to remain?


Can't we all live in peace/harmony?



that was God's plan-oh please-let it be!



Soldiers take your rifles and get out of here.


Please
leave us this land that we all hold so dear.


Indians,
whiteman-we'll all live as one.


We must live in
peace and when time is done,

History
will show that man can
survive.

With understanding
and love-we kept
peace alive.

Our future depends on the harmony
we share.


With man helping man-let them know that we care.


This country's
worth keeping together-it's true!

'Love
your fellow man' so
they say-that's not new.

As those before us
lived on this land.


We must work together hand in
hand.


So turn around Custer-leave us alone.



You're not welcome here-to our land-to our home!

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Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman  (Pilot Movie)

PART I

I was born on February fifteenth, eighteen
thirty-three,
I was the last of five children, the others girls
before me.
My father, a man of science, hoped his odds had
finally won,
As he awaited the birth of his fifth child, he wanted
a son.

Michael is what his name was supposed to be,
But along came Michaela, a girl, that was me.
I was very determined to enter medical school,
But none would take me, they all thought me a fool.

But I finally received my M.D. with pride.
My father made me a partner, we worked side by side.
For seven years until one fatal day,
He died and all my hopes faded away.

My mother said he'd spoiled me, I said 'That's not
true.'
He gave me the freedom to do what I do.
As I kissed him goodbye and ran from the room,
I thought alone later, his death came too soon.

With my father gone our practice virtually
disappeared,
And my life as a doctor was over, I feared.
But I promised my father that I'd carry on.
This I must do for myself now he's gone.

'Enough is enough Michaela,' mother said.
'His patients are gone because he is dead.'
'They were my patients too mother,' I was upset.
Encouragement from her I never did get.

'Your father-God rest his soul, indulged your
fantasy.'
'But I am a doctor mother! I have a degree.'
'It's a fantasy in this world Michaela, you know.'
'Then I belong in a different world, I'll leave-I must
go.'

So I found an advertisment and read on with the story,
'A town doctor was needed in the Colorado Territory.'
I sent a telegram detailing my past,
And in less than a week they responded quite fast.

Offering me the position I was relieved,
A place where people made new beginnings, I believed.
A place where my services would be needed, I knew.
Where my skills would be useful, they'd like what I
do.

Where I would be accepted as a doctor in time,
So I packed David's picture and the name plate that
was mine.
I hugged mother goodbye and with one final look,
I closed the door behind me, oh what courage that
took.

As we bumped across the vast territory I could feel,
Civilization slipping away with each turn of the wagon
wheel.
My father had taught me the difference that he,
Lived his life without prejudice and hostility.

But as I saw real Indians for the first time out west,
I was beginning to doubt that I'd done my best.
I couldn't relieve the knots in my stomach at all,
I'd never felt so alone that I could recall.

'Where can I find Reverend Johnson, that's whom I'm
too see?'
'Down at the church,' someone answered to me.
As I stepped in the mud they all looked at me strange,
I knew then that my life forever would change.

'Pardon me, Reverend Timothy Johnson, are you?'
'Why yes miss I am, now what can I do?'
'Michaela Quinn M.D., I'm the new doctor in town.'
But he didn't seem happy, his face wore a frown.

'I'm afraid I don't understand, Michael was the name.'
'It's Michael with an 'A', we're one in the same.
My father was expecting a male, that's why.'
'I am a little confused,' he said. 'So was I !'

'What's going on over there?' I inquired.
This was not the greeting I'd hoped or desired.
'Colonel Chivington and Chief Black Kettle, trying to
make a deal.
The army wants Indian land, they've made their
appeal.'

I couldn't help but notice a man amongst the rest,
He seemed to be white but like an Indian was dressed.
And as I turned I went down in the mud to my face,
He spotted me then, I knew I looked out of place.

'Horace, the doctor's telegram, how did it read?'
'Well I left out the initial, felt there was no need.'
'That initial left out,' I said. 'Wasn't an 'A'?'
'Why that's right young lady,' what else could he say.

'This is most embarassing Miss Quinn, I apologize.
We'll pay your way back to Boston, I think that's
wise.'
'That won't be necessary for Reverend you see,
Colorado Springs needs a doctor, of which I happen to
be.'

'But you don't understand, a lady doctor, oh my.'
'Well there's always a first time just please, let me
try.'
'No respectable women alone, it's just not done.'
'That's a shame Reverend, every town should have at
least one.'

'The widow Cooper doesn't even allow ladies to stay,
And she runs the boarding house, it's right this way.'
'I'm Charlotte Cooper, you the new doctor I see.
These are my youngins, Matthew, Colleen and Brian
makes three.'

'You're dress sure is dirty,' little Brian could see,
Things were not going so well for me.
'Manners' Charlotte said and the child did obey.
'Matthew get her bags, the doctor's gonna stay.'

My expectations of a warm reception were vastly clear,
Opinions of  women doctors were no better here.
The room was plain, it wasn't like home.
But for now I would make it feel as my own.

I dined with the soldiers and enjoyed a fine meal,
I asked what the Indians got from the deal.
The colonel was angry he stated with hate,
'Bleeding heart fools, I don't care about their fate!'

'I believe that their reason is perfectly clear,
The Indians were first to inhabit it here.'
'But they stand in the way of progress,' he said.
'I would be satisfied to see all of them dead!'

'Where can I post a notice today?
I need to find a place of my own to stay?'
I wanted to set up my practice somewhere,
They said Bray's Store, everything goes through there.

'Mornin Gentlemen,' Charlotte  said as we walked
through the door.
'Jake Slicker he's pulled teeth, lanced boils an'
more.'
So I put up my notice and thought I was done,
But the shopkeeper growled 'no room for another one.'

I then saw a sign that didn't seem fair,
That Indians and dogs were not welcome there.
I wasn't quite sure what I was to do,
When the toss of a tomahawk split the sign in two.

I turned and saw it was the same man,
With his long golden hair, his skin covered in tan.
I had a strange feeling as we stared eye to eye,
I didn't know how much time had gone by.

'Let's find you a horse,' then Charlotte pulled me
outside.
'What horse?' I thought, oh no, I can't ride!'
As we headed out to find me a horse,
I wouldn't let Charlotte know that, of course.

'Bein a doctor that's one thing my dear,
But bein a woman that's another out here.
And bein an unmarried lady of style,
You got enough black marks to last you a while!'

I picked out a horse, I thought had heart,
But to get on his back, where do I start?
Then two arms were lifting me up in the air,
I was up on the horse, 'he'd' put me up there.

'You took down my notice. Why'd you do that?'
'No, I'm answerin it,' he said, and that was that.
As I took my first ride out to see what he had,
He said, 'Here it is.' It looked really bad.

I opened the door, there was dust everywhere,
But I'd found a new home and I didn't care.
'I'll take it,' I said. I'll make it look great.
Then I took from my bag my Dr. Quinn plate.

'What do you think?' I said holding it high.
Something felt good and I didn't know why.
He looked and replied, 'Not much of a shingle.'
As I stared at his eyes I could feel my skin tingle.

'I don't know how you made it back on your own,
I'll wring Sully's neck for leavin you alone.'
'Is that his name?' I had to know.
'He's a man of his word,' she told me so.

She said Sully was a miner that followed the trail,
Come out west and fell for Loren's daughter, Abigail.
'Abigail died and their baby daughter too.
I did what I could, what they needed was you!'

'Sure is dirty,' the kids said and I couldn't agree
more.
So I picked up the broom to sweep dust off the floor.
'Ever used a broom?' Charlotte said. 'Or is it like
the horse?'
'Have I used a broom,' I replied, but I hadn't of
course.

We all cleaned my new home, it was a busy day.
We had servants who cleaned, it was the Boston way.
'I can't thank you enough.' Without them I'd have been
stuck.
'No thanks necessary,' Charlotte said, 'What you
really need is luck!'

PART II

Charlotte was right the only work I knew was
'doctorin' and that was it.
I knew nothing of the hardships that they faced, I
wasn't sure if I'd fit.
The hand carved cradle, furniture and pots, Sully had
left them all.
The hope chest and the wedding picture and the baby's
bootie, so small.

The very next day when I went to church to show thanks
for all I'd got,
Came a hollar from down the street, a man had just
been shot.
But they wouldn't let me help, they said 'Women get
outta here.'
And when Maude fell in pain, I wasn't allowed near.

Frustration disappeared as I saw Sully kneeling by a
grave.
'There's things in the cabin that belong to you.' He
said, 'Nothing I want
to save.'
'What did Chief Black Kettle say as I rode up on my
horse?'
'He wanted to know who you were, so I said a Medicine
Woman of course.'

'He said among whites only men make medicine and you
must be,
A crazy white woman from the east.' Then he walked
away from me.
Except for Charlotte no one listened, I was beginning
to think him right.
Maybe I was crazy to come here, but I couldn't give up
the fight.

When Emily tried to deliver, something was very wrong.
Charlotte asked me for my help, the delivery was
taking too long.
With her cries of pain, the baby came and Charlottle
held it upside down,
And the slap she gave the child made it breath and
stole away her frown.

'The doc saved your life,' Charlotte said. that made
me feel so good.
'You have a beautiful baby,' I said, knowing I'd done
all I could.
And yet no patients came to me, what was I going to
do?
It was time for more drastic measures, I had to plan
something new.

So I marched over to Jake Slicker and said, "I'd like
your advice.'
He pulled out my tooth. I was in pain. It wasn't nice.
But Charlotte just laughed and said 'That took guts!
Somethin men can't
ignore!'
I had put into motion my very own plan and hoped I'd
won the war.

She told me of how her husband left and she'd raised
the kids on her own.
I told her of how David died in the army, left me
heartbroken and alone.
She said it didn't matter how we lose them, the pain
is still the same.
She was right. I understood of course, there was no
one to blame.

Negotiations between the army and the Indians weren't
going well.
Sully was upset by this, as anyone could tell.
He said the army didn't come to barter, the army came
to steal.
The way they treated the Indians, I couldn't believe
it was real.

Another month had passed for me, and still no patients
came,
But Mr. Slicker came a riding, he'd given Robert E. my
name.
Told me to check out his lumbago to see what I could
do,
So I headed for the livery and said, 'Morning, how are
you?'

He said he don't want 'no woman doctor' lookin after
him,
But of all the men in this town I didn't expect him to
give in.
To prejudice and judgement unfair as it had been,
I thought that in his lifetime, enough of this he'd
seen.

They had placed another ad looking for a doctor for
their town.
I was arguing with the Reverend and he told me to calm
down,
When Brian called out for my help, said Charlotte had
a snake bite,
And as I watched her slip away from us, a mother I
became that night.

Charlotte made me promise as she lay dying but not
alone.
I told her I didn't know about kids, doctoring was all
I'd known.
But I promised her and after that they came to live
with me.
They didn't want to accept it, it wasn't going to be
easy.

The first time I met Hank, it wasn't very nice.
But Myra needed help from me. She needed some advice.
I had gone into the Saloon where the men were very
rough.
But Sully came to rescue me, he'd seen I'd had enough.

In all the chaos I'd forgotten about Brian and what
happened on that day,
But he hadn't and was angry. He chose to run away.
I tried to find him but got lost, the Indians kept me
for the night.
They said they'd help to find my boy at dawn's first
early light.

I felt I'd let Charlotte down. I hadn't passed the
test.
But Sully comforted me and said that I had done my
best.
The warmth of the blanket he placed over me with his
hands, I felt he
cared.
Sully was Brian's hero and his loss now we both
shared.

Sully found my Brian and he helped me mend his leg,
And when the army tried to charge, for the Indians, I
had to beg.
The army wasn't happy but I had to stand my ground,
For without their help and kindness, he may never have
been found.

I saw Black Kettle once again, he'd been shot in an
army raid.
And for his recovery from his wound, in our barn the
Indians stayed.
With the soldiers gone they must return but it
wouldn't be the same.
I was called 'Medicine Woman' by the chief, my given
Cheyenne name.

We didn't see Sully any more and Christmas time had
come.
We'd grown into a family, all misgivings were undone.
But through the blizzard came a knock and when I
opened up the door,
There before my amazement stood Sully, our friend,
once more.

He brought them gifts, he stayed to eat and really
made me tingle,
When out from under his blanket came my very own
Doctor shingle.
That day was truly Christmas and for our gifts we all
thanked God above.
I'd come west to be a doctor but found the greatest
gift of all was Love.

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