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Post by barb7330 on Feb 4, 2015 19:20:04 GMT -5
This is a lovely poem...
> > > > > > > > > > When an old man died in > > the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian > > country town, 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 Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity > > has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines > > around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. > > A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, > > but eloquent, poem. > > > > And this old man, with > > nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this > > 'anonymous' poem winging across the > > Internet. > > > > Cranky Old > > Man > > > > What do you see nurses? > > . . .. . .What do you see? > > What are you thinking > > .. . when you're looking at me? > > A cranky 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 is 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 > > ... . . . . I 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. > > It's jest to make > > old age . . . . . . . look like a fool. > > The body, it crumbles > > .. .. . grace and vigour, depart. > > There is now a stone . > > . . where I once had a heart. > > But inside this old > > carcass . A young man 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 cranky 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! > > > > PLEASE SHARE THIS > > POEM! > > The best and most > > beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. > > They must be felt by the heart
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Post by David on Feb 4, 2015 21:23:33 GMT -5
That is so true. It reminds me of a song by John Prine " in There"
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