Post by ham on Aug 8, 2014 12:33:16 GMT
This poem is said to have been found, after her death, in the locker of Kate, a geriatric patient in the early 1970’s. but can read it with our children in mind
Reflect
What do you see, nurse, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you look at me?
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit with far-away eyes
Who dribbles her 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 stick 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 use at your bidding as I eat at your will
I’m a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
brothers and sisters who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon a lover she’ll meet
A bride 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 build a secure, happy home
A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man’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 husband is 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 woman and nature is cruel;
‘tis 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 girl 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, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman; look closer –see ME!!!
Reflect
What do you see, nurse, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you look at me?
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit with far-away eyes
Who dribbles her 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 stick 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 use at your bidding as I eat at your will
I’m a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
brothers and sisters who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon a lover she’ll meet
A bride 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 build a secure, happy home
A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man’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 husband is 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 woman and nature is cruel;
‘tis 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 girl 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, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman; look closer –see ME!!!
