Crabby Old Man

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near
Tampa, Florida, 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 Missouri. The old man'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 his simple, but eloquent, poem.

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

Crabby Old Man

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 .have grown and are 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 ..........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.
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 ..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 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!

 

Oh,this is the best poem I have read in years.:major

Make me think about my life,and if anyone will respect me when I grow old.

PS:I copy this poem to my comp.

 

Glad you liked it. I had hoped when I posted it that someone else would appreciate it.

And, yes, it made me think, too.

 

Well as one "Old Geek" who is getting up in years, that poem brings us great fears.
For even though the young ones hear it with their ears.
We always wonder will their hearts remember in the coming years.


Great poem gal1998

 

I thought this thread was about me. Nevermind!! LOL
Yes, good poem, Gal

 

I was searching for something else and came across this, missed it somehow before glad I found it now though. Was a task getting through it with watery eyes. How true it rings through life. Should be a reminder to all care givers that there was once a person like them. Thanks Gal

 

You're lucky I have to go get in the shower to wash my dribbled food off of me.