Grandview Visits ARE Important
Posted by Brian F. Thompson
The following poem was found in the possessions of an elderly lady in the geriatric ward of a small hospital in Dundee, Scotland. It is now travelling around the world via the internet.
Now that we are resuming our Tuesday evening visits with the residents of Capital Care Grandview, this poem is a timely reminder that although many of these residents can't express their feelings, they do have feelings, and our visits are very likely more meaningful than we can ever know.
Now that we are resuming our Tuesday evening visits with the residents of Capital Care Grandview, this poem is a timely reminder that although many of these residents can't express their feelings, they do have feelings, and our visits are very likely more meaningful than we can ever know.
CRABBY OLD WOMAN
What do you see, nurses..............what do you see?
What are you thinking...............when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman..................not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,.....................with faraway 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 stocking 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 girl of sixteen..........with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now.......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,
Whe need me to guide.........and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty,...............my young now grown fast,
Boud to each other..............with ties that should last.
At fourty, 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 to 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 and 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 once I 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 eyese, people,........open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;..........look closer......see ME!
What do you see, nurses..............what do you see?
What are you thinking...............when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman..................not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,.....................with faraway 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 stocking 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 girl of sixteen..........with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now.......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,
Whe need me to guide.........and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty,...............my young now grown fast,
Boud to each other..............with ties that should last.
At fourty, 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 to 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 and 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 once I 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 eyese, people,........open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;..........look closer......see ME!