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 a 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 am a small child of Ten.......................with a father and mother.
Brothers and sisters .............................who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen....................... .with wings at 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 will last
At Forty my young ones.........................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 to 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 vigour depart
There now is 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 remenber the pain.
And I'm loving and living.......................... life over again.
I think of the years, all to 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 beside
WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE YOUNG SOUL WITHIN
We will all one day,be there too!
Richard Cornish
BREATHE EASY = FRIENDSHIP.
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details BLF