How can I find my old pictures?

[freddie]

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!

[Looney]

It's lovely.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Thank you for sharing. That's a very moving poem.

[freddie]

My friend from Australia sent it to me, and it really hit home...

[bluekarin]

That is lovely and a bit sad too

[Old Speckled Hen]

Made me moist eyed.

EVERY single nurse/doctor/carer/son/daughter should be made to commit this to memory.

[mollyripkim]

Made me cry too, so apt, and something we should all remember.

[yvonne]

Very moving !

[Alis girls]

i saw this years ago and cried when I was on my first staffing post. it should be on every wall of every hospital ward. the writer is unknown I think but I could be wrong.

[Alis girls]

Forgot to add I was told the nurses on clearing out the ladies locker after she had passed away found it. I wish I know who wrote it. It still moves me to tears after 33years of nursing (old fashioned way not this new uni based training)

[Alis girls]

Sorry the version I saw was about a elderly lady.

[chickencam]

That is so true. We went through watching my Grandad slip away last year, you do have to remember that although now frail and helpless, these people were once strong and vibrant. None of us want to look too far into the future, afraid of what it may hold, we should treat our elderly with respect and do all that we can to maintain their dignity.