When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in country New South Wales, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre 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!!
you hit it right on the head Sue, this should not be in just joking it should be placed in every nursing station and every home across the nation, it will be in mine from now on, framed and in pride of place, to quote a glorious australian actor in a classic film.............. "it's going straight to the pool room"
caring for our elderly, sick and injured sometimes gets to be more of a "job" than a privilige, I go and see our "locked up" elderly when I can and i always take my son with me, I love to just sit and listen to these people who lived in another universe than I do now
the hardships they have come through, the degredation, the things they have witnessed, the good times and the bad from the first flight to the shuttle from horse and buggy to space living, world wars have come and gone, family has come and gone, they dont understand why they are singled out to be left behind
I am often enthralled when I sit, talk and just listen to our elders, the doctors, nurses and carers are amazed and engrossed and often gather and just sit in stunned silence as the stories are told, quite often tears roll down their cheeks, all are affected,
our surgeon "Sam" brings a tape recorder/dictaphone thingy along with him when I visit, he has hundreds of storys that he treasures, he calls them his "levellers"
I have forgotten how many times I have been told by these trained personell that they "never knew", my reply is always the same, "you didnt ask, you didnt see the person inside"
most just dont take the time to just sit and listen, I wish they would, everyone has a worthwhile story! I really dont have the time but I try to get to them everyday even just for half an hour or so, they all sit and wait for Dave, willing and eager to tell "their story", so much loneliness in such a crowded position
in this day and age of "disposability" and speed, everything is a rush and we become engrossed in things that are really of no consequence, we forget to just "settle" and remember what we are here for, not money or self gain, we should just enjoy the time we have on this earth and at the same time enrich each others lives,
I call it the "boomerang" effect, doesnt matter how many times you throw a smile away it will always come back! a good deed or action will have it's own reward,
anyway, I'll shut up, the printers finished, I'll frame this now and find "pride of place" and hang it,
Thanks for sharing this Sue....My Mum in Law just passed away, and whilst helping with the clearing of stuff!! I came across this same poem. Very moving...... Barb..
