Our Beautiful Dreamer

She looked out at us who sat in the dark,

and with love and compassion she kindled a spark;

a spark that she fanned into a flame,

into a beacon of hope that will bear her name;

for she knew how it felt in a world without light;

for she'd come very near to losing her sight;

and as she sat in the world of the blind;

a wonderful vision was formed in her mind,

for she dreamed of a place where we'd all meet one day,

to receive a warm welcome, to work and to play;

but she just didn't dream, like some dreamers do;

but she worked with her dream, ‘till she made it come true.

It was the year of fifty-one

that her work for the blind in Bermuda was begun.

She knew one of us, Lance Hayward, his name,

since then he has risen to musical fame;

she had seen and admired his will to succeed;

so she asked him to help her, to reach others in need;

in need of the courage to go out on our own,

with the added assurance we were not alone,

so he told her about us,

and it seemed he knew all;

and we'll always be grateful that he helped Lady Hall.

There are some who said it couldn't be done,

but she started her search, finding one by one,

she went here and there,

like a ray of light, for those who lived without sight.

There were some she found in great distress,

living in a world of loneliness;

their future looked bleak,

with dark days ahead,

but she brought them hope, and a purpose instead.

But I wondered why she was coming to me,

for I thought I was normal, as normal could be.

I had grown up competing, what my friends did I did;

but the fact of my blindness, was something I hid.

I was like an ostrich, with its head in the sand;

for to speak of my blindness, I never would stand.

I could skate and swim, and I love to dance;

and I'd had my share of love and romance,

and now I was married and had a small son,

so I had done everything that my girlfriends had done.

So why was she coming to someone so vain;

did she think that I'd ever go to town with a cane?

But there she was, and she opened the door,

and I saw myself as never before;

for she didn't bring pity, that would shatter my pride,

but she touched at the fear that was hidden inside;

for she helped me to see,

that to be blind was no shame;

so I will always be glad that Lady Hall came.

She invited me down, with others to meet,

in an upstairs room on Burnaby Street;

and she had a committee as good leaders do;

to help with her work as numbers they grew.

For we all started coming, from both near and far,

to learn the great lesson, to accept what you are;

and we soon discovered,

as we'd come once a week,

that to use a white cane didn't make you a freak.

We formed our own club in fifty-four,

to grow and mature, just a little bit more;

we were like a branch off of Lady Hall's tree,

though we did our own business and no member could see.

To learn independence and to reach others our aim,

a club for the blind, and the Beacon Club was our name.

But oh what fun, our Wednesdays would be,

when we'd all get together for afternoon tea.

There were special guest speakers to enlighten our mind,

and so many helpers who were thoughtful and kind;

and many musicians would stop in awhile;

and we learned of our history from our dear Edith Hyle.

But in all our functions, and all that was planned;

we felt the gentle guidance of Lady Hall's hand.

The years quickly passed, and though the work it had grown,

still she longed for a home of our own;

so a drive was held, to reach the public's heart;

with a wonderful response, for all did their part;

and ‘twas in the year of sixty-two,

that Lady Hall's dream really did come true;

for we had our own home, where we still meet;

at our own Beacon House on Dundonald Street.

And just like her dream, we meet every day,

to receive a warm welcome to work and to play.

Twenty five years have passed,

and now she is in need of a rest,

but when she retires we want her to know,

that from out of our hearts she never will go.

She calls us her children,

we call her our mother,

to the blind of Bermuda she stands as no other.

She's been our beacon, our light,

and a friend to us all.

Our beautiful dreamer, Lady Hall.