• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Crabby

A

Anonymous

Guest
When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small
hospital near Dundee
Scotland, 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 Ireland. The old lady's
sole bequest to
posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition
of the News Magazine
of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A
slide presentation
has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent,
poem.

And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left
to give to the world,
is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging
across the Internet:

Crabby Old Woman

What do you see, nurses ......... What do you see?
What are you thinking ............. When you're
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 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!!

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.

IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO READ.
 

ranchwife

Well-known member
We have a copy of this hanging outside of our nurses' station to remind all of us that we are ALL HUMAN and that we were all young and full of dreams at one time!! All too easy to forget in today's world of "worshipping the young"!!
Excellent post, OT!! Thanks for putting it on here as a gentle reminder to be grateful and have some patience with those who are not able to speak up!!
:D :D :D
 

Latest posts

Top