Just thought I'd share this

[Miss.September]

My aunty sent me this in an email, thought I'd share.

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, 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.

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 .. . . . . 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!

[Cranky Kitten]

Very moving. I remember when I was 16, my grandfather was in a nursing home, he was often incontinent and frequently forgot who people were when they came to visit. Inside, he was mortified to be in that position, he was always such a proud man.

I'd visit him while walking the dogs, the nursing staff would let me bring them in (they were large dogs but very well behaved) to lie beside his chair and be petted by the residents. And he would smile and tell me how much my visit had brightened everyone's day - so what if he forgot my name?

I still have his battered old trilby hat. RIP Pop

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Beautiful hun, thanks for sharing.

[~TT40~]

Ive seen a version where it is a woman in the poem. Still just as moving though.

[blessedatlast]

So true.. It is amazing to know what these people were like in their younger days..

One of the men where I worked loved to tell me (over and over) about how he and his wife loved to go to the nudist beach

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

My nan spent years in a nursing home, before i moved i would go there once or twice a week and just be with her, like CK's pop she often forgot people's names but she still had the whit and humour that could make my DP blush.
These people have a lifetime of memories and wisdom, so sad they can't always share.

R.I.P. Nan - i know your watching over me and i see so much of you in my girls, if only i can half half the life, love and wisdom you had i will be the happiest woman alive.

[Asparagus and Lemons]

This is so sad, my Grandfather is about to be put in a nursing home because he can no longer stand, he's had multiple strokes after the last few years, leaving him very vegetable like. I do not like to visit him anymore because it saddens me, I dont want to remember him this way.
But maybe I should for him.
Thank-you for sharing xx