A touching poem

[mkennedy747]

Hello All,

 

I just saw a photo on the Sky news website of a poor, hunched-over old lady in a care home and it brought this poem to mind that I first saw years ago. Apparently it was written by an old lady in a nursing home in Dundee and was only found after her death. God bless her.

 

It seemed appropriate to share it with you all during these strange times.

 

Warm regards,

 

Mick

 

AN OLD LADY'S POEM

 

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you're looking at me?

A crabby old woman, not very wise,

Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her 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 stocking 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 girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,

Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.

A bride 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 a secure happy home.

A woman 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 man's still 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 husband is 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 woman ...and nature is cruel;

'Tis 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 girl 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, nurses, open and see,

...Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

(Moved from Motorhome Matters forum)

[teflon2]

I dont know about moved but it's very moving.