AlamoPA Mailing List: Fw: To all humans--nurses and other care givers especially

[Sallie Carlson (wacsc11945]

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Robert Ahrenkiel <gp-bob11 [at] att.net>

Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 12:01:57 AM CDT

Subject: Fw: To all humans--nurses and other care givers especially

What do you think of the idea of giving a copy to your Mom's

staff?  I think you mom is well taken care of so this poem may

not be appropriate - on the other hand it may reinforce what

they are.

Crabby Old  Lady

 

When  an old woman died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in

Moosomin, Saskatchewan, it was  believed that she had nothing left of any

value.

Later, when the nurses  were going through her 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

Alberta .

 

The old woman'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 this simple, but eloquent,  poem.

 

This little old woman, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the

author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Crabby Old Lady

 

What do you see nurses?  . ..  . What do you see?

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

A crabby old lady .. ..  .. 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 sock or shoe?

 

Who, resisting or not  .. .. .. lets  you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding  .. .. .. a 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 girl 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 is beside me  . .. . to see I don't mourn.

 

At Fifty, once more, ..  .. .. babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children  .. .. .. My husband and me.

 

Dark days are upon me ..  .. my husband's now  dead.

I look at the future ..  .. .. and 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 vigor 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, people .. .. .. open and see.

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

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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!