Thursday, October 14, 2010

CRABBY OLD MAN


When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte, Nebraska, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri .
The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
What do you see nurses? . . .. .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . .. . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . .. . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am. . . . .. . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . .. . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . .. . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . .. . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . .. . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . ... . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . . .. . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man .. . . Look closer . . . see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!

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10 comments:

Mari said...

We had this posted at our nursing home some time ago. It's excellent, and I think I will post it again.

Brenda said...

It really does help us see with different eyes, doesn't it?

Sohailah said...

Wow - that brought tears to my eyes and a sniffle to my nose. Thank you. I love it.

Fitter After 50 said...

This is the first time I've read this. It's excellent. Thank you for posting.

Sharon said...

That was so beautiful and so true.
thank you for sharing it with us.
thank you for tagging me and be sure to stop by and see my answers to the 8 questions.
Have a great weekend.

Oklahoma Granny said...

It took a few minutes for me to read all the words. I had to wipe aways tears more than once.

Unknown said...

That is a very convicting poem, we had it at the nursing home a couple of years ago and it touched many.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

So true, a little sad. It should be required reading for all medical personnel!

Yes, I'm praying for Suzette, you, and the whole family! Thanks for your prayers for Ann.

Kathy

Danny Wright said...

I missed this one last night on my Google reader. When I see people that are not becoming in the worlds terms, who are being mean or have waisted themselves, I often remind myself that this person was once a precious wide eyed innocent little child, even the elderly.

I love this post. It reminds me of a tombstone in Tennessee:

Remember friend as you pass by
as you are now so once was I
as I am now so you shall be
so prepare yourself to follow me.

groovyoldlady said...

The girlires and I visit the nursing home regularly...and this is a wonderful reminder of WHO we are loving on!