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Someone sent this to me and I thought you might like reading this. It's worth reading.WHEN AN OLD WOMAN DIED IN THE GERIATRIC WARD OF A NURSING HOME IN MOOSOMIN, SASKATCHEWAN, 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 ALBERTA.
THE OLD WOMAN'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 THIS SIMPLE, BUT ELOQUENT, POEM.
THIS LITTLE OLD WOMAN, WITH NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE TO THE WORLD, IS NOW THE AUTHOR OF THIS 'ANONYMOUS' POEM WINGING ACROSS THE INTERNET.
CRABBY OLD LADY
_What do you see nurses? . .. . What do you see?_
_What are you thinking .. .. .. when you're looking at me?_
_A crabby old lady .. .. .. 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 sock or shoe?_
_Who, resisting or not .. .. .. lets you do as you will,_
_With bathing and feeding .. .. .. a 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 girl 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 .. .. .. 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 is beside me . .. . to see I don't mourn._
_At Fifty, once more, .. .. .. babies play 'round my knee,_
_Again, we know children .. .. .. My husband and me._
_Dark days are upon me .. .. .. my husband's now dead._
_I look at the future .. .. .. and 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!!_
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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 !
THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF THIS WORLD CAN'T BE SEEN OR TOUCHED.
THEY MUST BE FELT BY THE HEART.
