+- Mock (https://mockforums.net)
+-- Forum: Funny Shit & Good Shit (https://mockforums.net/forum-6.html)
+--- Forum: Good Shit (https://mockforums.net/forum-15.html)
+--- Thread: Poem to Give the Nursing Home - sad but true (/thread-9448.html)
Poem to Give the Nursing Home - sad but true - Teacher - 12-21-2012
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, 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. 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 Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
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!
RE: Poem to Give the Nursing Home - sad but true - HairOfTheDog - 12-21-2012
(12-21-2012, 08:40 PM)Teacher Wrote: 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!
Love the poem, Teacher. And, completely agree with your sentiment.
Not only will we all be there one day, but sometimes brushing aside the elderly is denying oneself the pleasure of some of the best stories, first-hand accounts of recent history, and a lot of big laughs (or meaningful tears).
RE: Poem to Give the Nursing Home - sad but true - username - 12-21-2012
Reminds me of this other depressing song...
[verse]
I'm 15... for a moment
caught in between 10 and 20
and I'm just dreamin'
countin' the ways to where you are
I'm 22... for a moment
and she feels better than ever
and we're on fire
making our way back from mars
[chorus]
15 there's still time for you
time to buy and time to lose
15... there's never a wish
better than this
when you've only got a hundred years
to live
[verse]
I'm 33... for a moment
still the man,
but you see I'm a they
a kid on the way, babe
a family on my mind
I'm 45... for moment
the sea is high
and I'm heading into crisis
chasing the years of my life
[chorus]
15 there's still time for you
time to buy and time to lose
yourself
within a morning star
15... I'm all right with you
15... there's never a wish
better than this
when you've only got a hundred years
to live
[pre-verse]
as time goes by
suddenly, "oh why?"
another blink of the eye
67 is gone
the sun is getting high
we're moving on
[verse]
I'm 99... for a moment
in time for just another moment
and I'm just dreamin'
countin' the ways to where you are
[chorus]
15... there's still time for you
22... I feel her too
33... your on your way
everday's a new day
hooo-.
hooo-.
15... there's still time for you
24... it's time to choose
15... there's never a wish
better than this
when you've only got a hundred years
to live
Or (random) one of my favorite songs...