"In the beginning"

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The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Bush Poetry 3

Now for something completly different, you can never really
identify why you immeadiatley like some poems, this was
one that just grabbed me.
Written by my favourite author "Anonymous."

What do you see?

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you are 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 and 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 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!

Author unknown


Remember this poem when you next meet an old person you might brush aside

Without looking at the young soul within… we will one day be there too!

7 comments:

Davoh said...

Mmm, one of the problems with intergenerational communication, i guess. I have been where you are .. you have yet to be where I am.

Anonymous said...

Hi Peter, I like this poem. I have seen it in nursing homes etc.

Wombat Wal is right - he has been where we are, but where he is is ahead of us.

Alan & Lorna called yesterday - did you get my e-mail? Have had a few returned lately incl 1 to you.

Cliff said...

That's very touching Peter. Thanks

Prerona said...

Peter, thats beautiful :)

I came here from horsetails' blog. Will be back for more hopefully. Ciao.

kenju said...

I got this in email a while back, Peter, and immediately sent it to almost everyone I know. It is so true.

Big Dave T said...

That's a nice poem. Never heard it before. That one about the new washing machine was a little wild. My mother had one of those kinds of contraptions.

OK, so you want me to try word verification on my blog. Down below I see two "x"'s and two "q"'s (Or is one of them a "g") as well as other letters. Well, only one way to find out. I'm wrong about one of of five times, but it's one reason I've hesitated putting in word verification.

Ivy the Goober said...

I think about this sometimes when I volunteer at the nursing home. And how I will likely be there some day. I love old people :)