No sage advice today but came across a poem sent from an activity professionals forum. It came on the heels of a great article in the Charlotte Observer about a young Girl Scout who “adopted” a woman at an assisted living facility. Both the story and poem speak about connecting and learning from one generation to the next.
Here is the story:
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.
Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? ...What do you see?
What are you thinking….
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………
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’
I’ll tell you who I am ……… As I sit here so still,
As I do what you’re 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 g 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 …………
I look at the future …………
For my young are all rearing…..
And I think of the years… and the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man………
‘Tis jest to make old age ….look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles….
There is now a stone…….
But inside this old carcass …… a young guy still dwells,
And now and again ……my battered heart swells
I remember the joys……..
And I’m loving and living……
I think of the years .all too few……gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact……..
So open your eyes, people ……….open and see..
Not a crabby old man. Look closer….see.
Reminds me of the Alan Jackson Song, Remember When. Here is a sample of my version of that great song.