Saw This On Facebook & Thought I'd Share...........

SueGeer

Such an inspirational poem from an old, but seemingly very wise old man.

"When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, 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 Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

'Cranky Old Man

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 . . . ... 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 is 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.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, 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 too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky 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!"

Indeed, we will all be there one day....let's make the most of our time between now and then! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

5ftnFun

lstroth1

This was a required reading for us when we were doing the geriatric section in nursing school. I have worked with elderly since my graduation and moving down to FL. It is always important to find out as much as possible about peoples lives before they end up in a nursing home. It helps explain some of their behaviors, fears, etc.

At one facility I was at, we had a very senile lady who would show up for 3pm shift change to take report. Later we find out from her family that she was a nurse who worked 3-11. Another man was always pulling the fire alarms and his family reported that he was a fireman and later on a building supervisor who would go around testing the fire alarms.

Even the very confused can tell when you are treating them with respect.

jodie_t

I first read that about 10 years ago - it an old LADY then - they've changed heer into an old man! I protest!

wolverine66

she says it's only in my head
she said "shut up"
but i know, i know...this is only in my head
she said "did you think that you were dreaming?"
i said "no"
she said "did you think that you were dreaming?"
i said "no"
she said "did you think that you were dreaming?"
i said "sometimes i don't know."

because i was out on the radio just starting to change.
somewhere out in America, it's starting to rain.
could you just tell me one thing you will remember about me?

can you tell me one thing?

can you tell me one thing?

can you tell me one thing that you will remember about me?

cause there's a girl on the car out in the parking lot
and she says "man, c'mon...c'mon just take a shot"
she says "can't you see me?"
she says "can't you see me?"
she said "can't you see my walls are tumbling down?"
she said "can't you see my walls are crumbling down?
can't you see my sun stopped spinning around? and can't you see that sky turn black and brown, and can't you see that moon go flashing round. and can't you see me? and can't see me? and can't you see me?"

"no."