Crabby Old Man
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte , Nebraska , 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 .
What do you see nurses? . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby 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 .. …….…are grown and gone,
But my woman'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 wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . …. . . . shudder with dread..
For my young are all rearing . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . …. . and the love I have known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. .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 guy 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, . . . . . . . . . .so few, gone so fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . . …. that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man. Look closer ……SEE ME!!
Remember this poem when you meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within . . . . we will all, one day, be there, too!
Thanks to Cab Clark, South Salem Class of 56, for sharing this bit of elder wisdom. Feel free to pass it on to someone who knows the truth of it, or ought to learn that truth.