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.
T'is 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!!
So the next time you are confronted by a crabby old man take a moment to see his heart and the losses of his life and how you would feel. TS
