Cranky Old Man

Grams · Guru

Cranky Old Man

ibbo · Senior Member

Grams wrote:
I found this on facebook and thought I'd share...it brought tears to my eyes...

What do you see nurses?.....What do you see?
What are you thinking.....when you're looking at me?
A cranky 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.....let's you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding.....the long day to fill?
Is that what your 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 is beside me.....to see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more.....babies play around 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.
It's 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 man 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 to fast.
And except the stark fact.....that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people.....open and see.
Not a cranky old man.
Look closer.....see.....ME!

Grams
You never believe it until it happens to you.So sad but Oh so true.Thank you.Ibbo.

Nelly · Guru

Very heart wrenching Grams but unfortunately very true especially when you know someone in that situation - thanks for sharing.

Yuglamron · Guru

In a similar vein,

The old guy gets up from playing checkers with an old mate. His mate says "Where are you Going?"

Off to see the wife in the home, was the reply. But she's got Alzheimers and doesn't even recognize you.

But I know who she is, was his answer.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

This is a poem originally titled "Crabbit Old Woman" by Phyllis McCormack, she wrote it in 1966 for a hospital newsletter.

Its sad that the point she makes is still absolutely valid.

Heres another poem "A Nurses Reply" which is also still valid.

A Nurses reply To the Crabbit Old Woman

What do we see, you ask, what do we see?
Yes, we are thinking when looking at thee!

We may seem to be hard when we hurry and fuss,
But theres many of you, and too few of us.

We would like far more time to sit by you and talk,
To bath you and feed you and help you to walk.

To hear of your lives and the things you have done;
Your childhood, your husband, your daughter, your son.

But time is against us,
theres too much to do -Patients too many, and nurses too few.

We grieve when we see you so sad and alone
With nobody near you, no friends of your own.

We feel all your pain,
and know of your fear That nobody cares now your end is so near
But nurses are people with feelings as well,
And when were together youll often hear tell Of the dearest old Gran in the very end bed,
And the lovely old Dad, and the things that he said,

We speak with compassion and love,
and feel sad When we think of your lives and the joy that youve had,
When the time has arrived for you to depart,
You leave us behind with an ache in our heart.

When you sleep the long sleep, no more worry or care,
There are other old people, and we must be there.

So please understand if we hurry and fuss
There are many of you, And so few of us.

Ontos45 · Guru

Both poems are brilliant and so, so true.